Think Globally
Reuse or Recycle It: Give Old Paint New Life
You may end up with leftover paint after a given task. Find a paint recycling program using Earth 911’s recycling locator. They take your leftover paint and give it new life.
Reuse Options
If you have leftover, unwanted paint in good condition, consider donating the paint for reuse to:
- A local charity
- A high school drama department
- Your church
- A Habitat for Humanity chapter
- Keep America Beautiful affiliates
Some communities even offer “Swap Shops” (product exchanges) as part of a local household hazardous waste program, facility or local charity.
Recycling Options
Recycling paint can create a whole new product (recycled-content paint) through reprocessing and reblending.
- Reprocessed paint is mixed with virgin materials, tested and then packaged for distribution or sale.
- Reblended paint is remixed, screened and packaged for distribution or sale.
Typically reblended paint comes in only a handful of basic neutral colors. It has a much higher percentage of recycled content paint then reprocessed paint, which may influence its overall quality. Reblended paint can be used for interior/exterior painting, graffiti abatement, and local improvement projects.
Steel Paint Can Recycling
Empty steel paint cans are recyclable; however, not every community accepts paint cans as part of the local recycling program. Check with your local recycling or HHW coordinator for more information. To recycle, steel paint cans must be empty and all paint contents dried prior to recycling (so take off the lid and let them dry out).