That’s right. There are safe and environmentally friendly ways to dispose of paint you can’t reuse or recycle, including placing them in the regular trash. There are a few simple “tricks of the trade” we’d like to share to show you how. It’s a way of “rethinking” and “reducing” the need to make that trip to the transfer station.

One way to dry the paint is to simply remove the lid and allow the moisture in the paint to evaporate. Be sure to do this in an open and well-ventilated area. Also make sure that children and animals have no access to the paint. Once the paint is dried, they can be safely disposed in the regular trash.

There’s also the “kitty litter” approach, as described here: 1 

1. Add equal parts kitty litter to latex paint in the can (one part paint to one part kitty litter). If you have more than a half a can, you can also pour the paint into a lined cardboard box then pour in cat litter.

2. Stir the cat litter into the paint until it has an oatmeal-like consistency that will not spill out.

3. Allow the paint and cat litter mixture to sit for one hour.

4. Throw the dried paint in the can in the garbage with the lid off.

If these options are not feasible or convenient, you can always take unused paint to the Miami County Transfer Station, which accepts liquid latex paint for hardening and disposals. Residents may bring up to 15 cans per day, and will be charged at the regular tipping fee: $53.80 per ton, with a minimum charge of $5.00.

Please note. This applies only to latex paints. Oil-based paint can be dried using the kitty litter approach. Liquid oil-based paint cannot be brought to the Transfer Station for hardening. It can, however be brought to Household Hazardous Waste drop-offs. HHW disposal costs $1 per pound. Because paint is heavy-- -a gallon can weigh 15 pounds or more-- -please note that drying paint at home will be the most cost efficient means of safe paint disposal. It’s easy too.