Paint, Paint Cans & Coatings

Paint, paint thinner, paint remover, stains, and varnishes are banned from the trash in Vermont. Unwanted paint, paint thinner, stains, varnishes, other coatings, and paint chips are accepted at the HazWaste Center at the District Transfer Station. Used oil-based (alkyd) paint should never be thrown in the trash, even if it appears to have dried out. Some liquid latex paint in good condition gets recycled by the Chittenden Solid Waste District's Local Color program. This paint can be bought at HOPE - Helping Overcome Poverty's Effects in Middlebury. Latex paint and joint compound are not hazardous, and may also be allowed to dry out and then thrown out with your regular trash disposal. Remove the lid and allow the paint to dry or add an absorbant material such as kitty litter to speed up the process. Check out more information on what to do with leftover latex paint (PDF).

Furniture or wood covered with lead paint can be disposed of as regular household trash or construction and demolition waste.

At this time, metal paint cans are not recyclable as scrap metal at the District Transfer Station. They must be disposed of in the trash. Plastic paint cans should also be disposed of as trash, even though they will often have a recycling symbol on the bottom. Paint cans are not accepted for recycling because of the potential for residual paint left in the can. When mixed with rain water, leakage can occur and compromise all the other recyclable materials.