After you’ve spent all the time and energy with a new paint job, odds are you’re not thinking about how to properly dispose of your leftover paint. You’d probably rather throw it in the dumpster and call it a day.
Whether your acrylic paint says “toxic” or “non-toxic,” though, there are proper ways of disposing of acrylic paint, and it’s important to follow them. Regardless of toxicity, all acrylic paint is considered hazardous waste and unsafe for the environment.
So, how to dispose of acrylic paint? To dispose of acrylic paint, you have four options: dry it out completely then throw it away, drop it off at a hazardous waste facility, recycle the remainder at a paint recycling drop-off center, or donate locally.
There are factors to consider in choosing the right option for you, such as the amount of leftover paint and what state you live in. Read on to see which method is the best fit for your leftover acrylic paint.
What Is Acrylic Paint Used For?
There are two primary uses for acrylic paint: crafting and home improvement. Acrylic paint is a popular choice for artists due to its quick-drying nature and creamy consistency. It’s not just used for painting an image on a canvas, but for all sorts of crafts.
It works well in decorating fabric, wood, ceramics, and glass too. It’s also offered in waterproof mixes, which make it a great option for outdoor projects as well. In home improvement, you’ll find acrylic-based paint referred to as latex paint, though there isn’t actually any latex in the mixture.
Latex paint is ideal for both indoor and outdoor projects and comes in a variety of finishes from matte to glossy. Although it will feel dry after only about an hour, it actually takes a few weeks to fully cure.
Toxic Vs Non-Toxic Acrylic Paint
Depending on the paint you buy, it could either be toxic or non-toxic. So what’s the real difference?
Toxic acrylic paint contains additives that are dangerous for humans, pets, and the environment, such as lead and other heavy metals. Depending on the paint mix, the pigment added to change the color of the paint can be toxic.
Non-toxic acrylic paint is water-based and considered safer. However, non-toxic acrylic paint is still considered hazardous waste material. Although the toxin levels are low, a large amount ingested by a person or animal is still highly dangerous.
It’s also created with a petroleum-derived polymer. This polymer makes it plastic-based and therefore non-biodegradable.
Ways To Dispose Of Acrylic Paint
Because of the general safety guidelines that come with acrylic paint, it’s important to dispose of it properly. Below are the three options you have for disposing of acrylic paint.
1. Dry Out And Dispose
This option is for non-toxic acrylic paint only. If you only have about 1 inch or less of paint left in the can, then this is your best option. Leave the paint can out for anywhere from 2 days to 1 week and allow the paint to harden completely on its own.
Once the paint has hardened completely, remove the disk from the can and throw it away in the garbage. You have two options with the can: throw it away with the paint disk, or clean it thoroughly and recycle.
Please note that this is not an option in all states. For example, California law requires you to take acrylic paint to a toxic waste management facility.
Tip: To save time, mix it with sand or cat litter. This will help clump up the moisture and it will harden faster!
2. Hazardous Waste Facilities
If your acrylic paint is toxic, it must be disposed of properly at a hazardous waste facility.
You may be thinking, how could I find a hazardous waste facility? The answer is simple. The EPA has a website specially designed to aid you in your search! This website will give you information on finding a facility.
For a quick search, you can also go to this website, also run by the EPA. It’s a search engine designed to help you find a hazardous waste facility near you.
Simply put in your zip code, filter the results based on what you’re looking for, and click “Search” at the bottom of the page. A list will come up with various options in your area.
When dropping off toxic acrylic paint at one of these facilities, be sure to inform the employees there of exactly what’s in your paint can. They need to have a full understanding of your paint to ensure they dispose of it in the correct way.
3. Recycle At A Paint Drop-Off Center
This option is only for non-toxic paint. If you still have tons of paint left in the can, or it’s not a lot but it’s still too much to dry out, or perhaps if you just want to be eco-friendly, then you can recycle your paint!
At paintcare.org you can find paint recycling drop-off centers near you.
However, there are only centers listed for the following US states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
If you live outside of those states, don’t fret. There are other ways of finding recycling centers near you. Try visiting your nearest Lowe’s, Sherwin Williams, Home Depot, or other local home improvement store. They may have more information for paint donations or recycling in your area.
Certain Sherwin Williams locations even accept paint recycling at their store, or will come pick it up from your home. Call your local flagship store to find more details on your specific location.
4. Donate
If you have a good amount of paint leftover, it’s also a great option to donate it to someone else who needs it. You can either post about it on social media, offer it to neighbors, or simply ask around. There may be a local school or organization looking for paint donations for various projects.
It’s been recommended to try freecycle.org as an avenue to find someone looking for leftover paint. This website is designed for people who have leftovers of something and are looking to donate them to someone else rather than just throwing the paint away.
On freecycle.org, you can either post your leftover paint as an offer or keep an eye out for any posts wanting acrylic paint.
5. Check Local Governance
Before choosing a disposal method, be sure to check your local governance. There are some states that have laws against certain disposal methods of acrylic paint.
In California, for example, it’s illegal to utilize our first method listed above: to dry out and dispose. Rather, if you live in California, you must either donate your paint or take it to a hazardous waste facility.
Related Questions
Can I Pour Acrylic Paint Down The Drain?
We highly discourage pouring acrylic paint down the drain for a few reasons. The first is that acrylic paint, even non-toxic, contains chemicals that should not be mixed in with your local water supply.
Another consideration is that even though acrylic paint is water-based, it doesn’t just wash down the drain. Often times, it can get stuck along the edges of the pipes, causing a clog somewhere in your plumbing. Even if it doesn’t clog in your own plumbing system, paint back-up can be disastrous for your local water filtration plant.
Can I Wash Brushes Used For Acrylic Paint In The sink?
While this may seem harmless given the relatively low amount of paint likely left on the brush, we definitely discourage this for the same reasons listed above regarding pouring leftover paint down the sink.
What you should do instead is wipe off as much paint as you can from the brushes with newspaper, an old rag, or a piece of a spare canvas. Allow the brush to dry fully. Once the brush is dried, you can dispose of it in whichever way is appropriate based on whether or not the paint was toxic.
If it was toxic, it will need to be taken to a hazardous waste facility with the rest of your toxic paint. If it was non-toxic, feel free to throw the brushes in the garbage after they’ve dried.
Can I Throw Away My Empty Paint Cans?
If your paint was non-toxic and you have removed the dried disk of leftover paint (if you had any), then you can throw the can away with the rest of your painting supplies.
If your paint was toxic, you must bring the can to a hazardous waste facility. It may seem unnecessary to do this with an empty paint can that barely has any dried paint on it, but it is still required.
Even if the can is empty, there is still hazardous material on it. Tossing it in the garbage can leave the environment and any wild animals exposed to this hazardous material.
An alternative to throwing the can away completely is to recycle it. This is only an option if your paint was non-toxic, but if that’s the case, simply wash away all of the paint from the can and use it again.
Up Next: Is Acrylic Paint Flammable?
