Denver · Household Disposal

Paint Disposal in Denver: Free Drop-Off Options

Q: Can I throw old paint cans in the trash in Denver?

It depends on the paint. Fully dried latex paint can go in your regular trash with the lid off. Liquid paint, latex or oil-based, is household hazardous waste and cannot go in the trash or down the drain. Dry out small amounts of latex with cat litter or a paint hardener, then trash it; take any liquid or oil-based paint to a free drop-off.

Q: Can I take old paint to Sherwin-Williams, Ace Hardware, or Home Depot in Denver?

Yes. Many Denver-area paint retailers accept old paint for recycling through Colorado PaintCare, usually for free. Participating Ace Hardware and Sherwin-Williams stores are common drop-off points; call ahead to confirm they take your paint type and quantity.

Q: Does Junk Same Day take old paint?

We cannot haul liquid or hazardous paint, since no junk removal company legally can. We will take fully dried paint and empty cans as part of a cleanout, and we can point you to the nearest free paint drop-off for anything still liquid.

Latex, oil, spray paint, stain — here is exactly where old paint goes in the Denver metro, what is free, and how to dry out latex for the regular trash.

🪣 Doing it yourself? Here’s the step-by-step: How to Dispose of Paint in Denver (latex, oil & old cans) →

You Probably Have Old Paint. Here’s How to Get Rid of It.

The average Denver homeowner has 5-15 cans of old paint in the garage. Half-used gallons from every room you’ve ever painted, spray paint cans, stain, primer, and that "accent wall" color that didn’t work out. Here’s how to dispose of all of it properly.

The Key Rule: Liquid Paint Is Hazardous Waste. Dried Paint Is Trash.

Liquid latex/water-based paint = Household hazardous waste. Cannot go in the trash.
Liquid oil-based paint = Hazardous waste. Definitely cannot go in the trash.
Dried-out paint (any type) = Regular trash. Can go in your bin.
Empty paint cans = Recyclable metal. Lid off, in the recycling bin.

Free Paint Disposal Options in Denver

1. PaintCare Drop-Off Sites (Free — Year-Round)

Colorado participates in the PaintCare program, which provides free drop-off for paint at participating retailers. This is the easiest option:

Denver-area PaintCare drop-off locations:

Sherwin-Williams — Multiple Denver metro locations
Benjamin Moore retailers
Some Ace Hardware stores
Some True Value stores

Visit paintcare.org and enter your zip code for the nearest location.

PaintCare accepts:

Latex/water-based paint
Oil-based paint and stain
Primer and sealers
Deck and floor coatings

PaintCare does NOT accept:

Spray paint cans (aerosols)
Paint thinner, mineral spirits, or solvents
Two-component epoxy
Industrial or commercial quantities

Limits: 5 gallons per visit at most locations. For larger quantities, call ahead.

2. At Your Door Pickup — Denver ()

The City of Denver contracts Waste Management’s At Your Door program for residential household chemical pickup, including all types of paint:

Phone: (800) 449-7587 (Mon–Fri 7 AM–7 PM CST) or visit wmatyourdoor.com
Cost: per collection
How it works: WM mails you a heavy-duty bag and labels, you fill it, they pick it up at your door on a scheduled day
Accepts: Latex, oil-based, and spray paint, plus other household chemicals, batteries, and small electronics

Denver residents can also dial 311 or 720-913-1311 for questions. See our full Denver hazardous waste guide.

3. At Your Door Pickup — South Metro (–)

Unincorporated Arapahoe County, Aurora, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, and Greenwood Village residents can schedule a front-door pickup through Waste Management’s At Your Door program:

Phone: (800) 449-7587 (Mon–Fri 7 AM–7 PM CST) or wmatyourdoor.com
Cost: per collection ( for Aurora residents)
How it works: WM mails you a kit, you fill it, they pick it up at your front door on a scheduled day
Accepts: All paint (latex, oil-based, spray), plus other household chemicals

4. Veolia Recycling Center, Henderson (Free for Paint — By Appointment)

For walk-in paint drop-off, Veolia’s Colorado facility takes architectural paint for free by appointment:

Address: 9131 E. 96th Ave, Henderson, CO 80640
Phone: (303) 526-8155
Paint: Free (appointment required)
Other HHW: facility fee plus .66/lb
Hours: Vary seasonally — check hhwdisposal.com or call before going

How to Dry Out Latex Paint for Regular Trash

If you don’t want to drive to a drop-off, you can dry out latex (water-based) paint and throw it in the regular trash:

Less than 1/4 can remaining: Remove the lid and let it air-dry. Takes 2-7 days in Denver’s dry climate.
More than 1/4 can: Mix in kitty litter, sawdust, or paint hardener (sold at hardware stores for $3-$5). Stir until the paint solidifies. Let it dry with the lid off for 24-48 hours.
Once completely solid: Put the can (lid off) in your regular trash bin. The trash collector needs to see that the paint is dried to accept it.

Denver’s dry climate is your friend here. Paint dries much faster in Colorado’s low humidity than in other parts of the country.

This method does NOT work for oil-based paint. Oil-based paint and stain must go to a hazardous waste drop-off regardless of whether it’s dried.

What About Spray Paint Cans?

Aerosol spray paint cans are pressurized and classified differently:

Completely empty cans (no pressure when you press the nozzle) = Regular recycling bin
Partially full cans = Hazardous waste drop-off (PaintCare does NOT accept aerosols)

What Junk Removal Can and Can’t Take

We CAN take: Dried paint cans, empty cans, dried-out primer, solid paint waste
We CANNOT take: Liquid paint, paint thinner, solvents, or aerosol cans with pressure

If you’re doing a garage cleanout and have a mix of dried and liquid paint cans, we’ll take the dried ones and leave the liquid ones for you to drop off at a PaintCare site or hazardous waste event.

Renovation Generating a Lot of Paint Waste?

If you’re renovating and need to dispose of paint alongside other debris (old drywall, trim, fixtures), schedule a construction debris pickup for the non-hazardous items and handle paint separately through PaintCare or a hazardous waste event.

Old Paint Disposal FAQ (Denver)

Can I throw old paint cans in the trash in Denver?

It depends on the paint. Fully dried latex paint can go in your regular trash with the lid off. Liquid paint — latex or oil-based — is household hazardous waste and can’t go in the trash or down the drain. Dry out small amounts of latex with cat litter or a paint hardener, then trash it; take liquid or oil-based paint to a free drop-off.

Can I take old paint to Sherwin-Williams, Ace Hardware, or Home Depot?

Yes — many Denver-area paint retailers accept old paint for recycling through Colorado PaintCare, usually free. Participating Ace Hardware and Sherwin-Williams stores are common drop-off points; call ahead to confirm they take your paint type and quantity.

How do I dispose of empty paint cans?

Fully dried, empty paint cans are regular trash, and metal cans can often be recycled once completely dry and residue-free. Cans that still hold wet paint count as hazardous until the paint is dried out.

Is old paint hazardous waste?

Liquid paint is. Latex and oil-based liquid paint is treated as household hazardous waste in Denver. Once latex paint is fully dried and solid it becomes regular trash, but oil-based paint is always hazardous and must go to a drop-off — never the trash.

Does Junk Same Day take old paint?

We can’t haul liquid or hazardous paint — no junk removal company legally can. But we’ll take fully dried paint and empty cans as part of a cleanout, and we can point you to the nearest free paint drop-off for anything still liquid.

Stop Storing Old Paint

Most homeowners keep old paint "for touch-ups." Here’s the reality: after 2-3 years, latex paint separates, gets chunky, or dries out. And the wall color has faded from UV exposure, so the touch-up won’t match anyway. If paint has been in your garage for more than 3 years, it’s time to let it go.

Call (720) 902-8408 for questions about what we can remove from your garage, or book online for a garage cleanout that handles everything except the hazmat.