How to Dispose of Paint and Household Hazardous Waste in NYC

Leftover paint, old batteries, and half-empty cans of solvent are some of the trickiest things to get rid of legally in New York City. Here is exactly where each one goes.

Paint, motor oil, pesticides, and other "household hazardous waste" (HHW) are not regular garbage in New York City. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) keeps these products out of the bin because they can leak, catch fire, or contaminate waterways. The good news: NYC has more free, legal options than most people realize, including a statewide paint program that covers all five boroughs. Here is how to handle each type.

Latex (water-based) paint: dry it or drop it

Latex paint cleans up with soap and water and does not contain the solvents that make oil paint hazardous. DSNY gives you two compliant choices.

• Dry it out and trash it. Remove the lid and stir in an absorbent like kitty litter, sawdust, or shredded newspaper. Once the paint is fully solid (no liquid left), you can put the dried can in your regular household trash.
• Recycle it instead. DSNY encourages dropping off latex paint at a special-waste site or a SAFE Disposal Event rather than landfilling it. Better still, use PaintCare (see below).

Empty, dry metal paint cans can go out with your curbside metal/glass/plastic recycling the night before collection.

PaintCare: the easiest option for almost any paint

Since May 1, 2025, New York State has run a free leftover-paint recycling program through PaintCare, a nonprofit created under the state's 2019 Postconsumer Paint Collection law. It operates throughout NYC's five boroughs, with hundreds of year-round drop-off sites statewide, many of them at hardware and paint stores.

Accepted: house paint (latex and oil-based), primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings like shellac and varnish, in their original labeled containers.

The program is funded by a small PaintCare fee added at purchase (ranging from $0.45 on containers under a gallon up to $1.95 on containers over two gallons and up to five), so there is no charge to drop paint off. Find a site using PaintCare's online locator or call their hotline. Households on Staten Island with 10 or more gallons may qualify for a door-to-door pickup.

Oil-based paint, solvents, and spray paint

Oil-based paint is flammable and counts as true hazardous waste, so it cannot be dried out for the trash the way some sources suggest, and DSNY does not want it loose in your bin. Spray paint and aerosol cans are also excluded from the basic drop-off sites. Use one of these:

• DSNY Household Special Waste Drop-Off Sites accept oil-based paint (NYC residents may bring up to five gallons per visit). Spray paint is not accepted here.
• SAFE Disposal Events accept oil paint, latex paint, and spray paint, along with the widest range of other hazardous products.
• PaintCare takes oil-based house paint (but not spray/aerosol cans).

DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off Sites

DSNY runs one permanent drop-off site in each borough, open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed legal holidays). They are for NYC residents only, so bring proof of residency such as a license or utility bill.

These sites also take many other hazardous items: car and rechargeable batteries, fluorescent bulbs, motor oil, and electronics. Confirm current locations and hours on DSNY's site before you go, since site details occasionally change.

SAFE Disposal Events

SAFE ("Solvents, Automotive, Flammables, Electronics") events are one-day collections DSNY holds across the boroughs, typically in spring and fall. They accept the broadest list of HHW, including automotive fluids (antifreeze, gasoline, motor oil), all paint types including spray paint, and electronics. Check DSNY's events page for the next dates and locations near you, as the schedule is published seasonally.

Electronics are banned from the trash

Under New York's Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act, it is illegal to throw covered electronics in the trash, including TVs, monitors, computers, laptops, printers, tablets, and phones. As of January 2026, the state expanded producer-responsibility rules for TVs and monitors. NYC also enforces this locally, with fines that can start in the four figures for illegal e-waste dumping. Options include manufacturer take-back programs, DSNY drop-off sites, SAFE events, and NYC's free e-cycleNYC building program for larger residential buildings.

Donating usable paint and materials

If your paint is still good, donating beats recycling. Several NYC nonprofits accept leftover paint and building materials:

• Big Reuse (Brooklyn/Queens) is a PaintCare drop-off site and accepts opened and unopened paint along with construction materials and tools.
• Habitat for Humanity NYC ReStore accepts unopened latex paint plus cabinets, fixtures, lumber, tile, doors, and windows, and offers scheduled pickups for larger donations.
• DonateNYC is the city's directory and app for finding nearby organizations that take household goods.

What it costs and when to hire help

Most of these options are free. The main cost is your time and transport. If you can't get to a drop-off, or you're clearing out a basement, estate, or renovation with many cans plus furniture and debris, hiring a licensed junk-removal company is a legitimate option (note that reputable haulers route hazardous items to proper facilities rather than landfilling them).

These figures are advertised ranges from NYC providers and will vary by volume, location, and access (walk-ups, stairs). Always get a quote before booking.

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