Paint Disposal: Don't Pour It Down the Drain

Liquid paint clogs pipes and pollutes water. Store it, share it, or harden it — never rinse it away.

Leftover paint is a common household hazard. Pouring it down the sink sends pigments and binders into sewers and rivers, while dried blobs in the bin can foul other waste.

Your Options

• Store sealed tins for touch-ups.
• Share via community groups or reuse centres.
• Harden small amounts with cat litter or a paint hardener, then bin the solid.
• Return larger volumes to a household hazardous-waste drop-off.

Water-Based vs Oil-Based

Water-based (latex) paint can be dried and binned once solid; oil-based paint is hazardous and must go to a collection point. When in doubt, treat it as hazardous.

Related Reading

See hazardous household waste, construction waste, and medicine waste.

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