Paint. It seems like you either have too much, or not enough. If you have left over paint in cans that are taking up space and collecting dust, we have good news for you. The number of locations in Clark County that are accepting paint for takeback has just increased! Paint is a household hazardous waste (HHW) which means it requires extra care when being disposed of. Luckily, there are a number of locations that make it easy to get rid of your excess paint for free (and this list is growing).
Paint can always be taken to any of the three transfer stations in the county, but there are also twelve local paint stores that now accept used or leftover paint for recycle! See below for a current list of locations.
Here are the rules:
~ Paint must be in the original, undamaged container (Paint that is not in its original container, e.g. paint in a mason jar, should be brought to a Household Hazardous Waste facility at any Clark County transfer station.)
~ Containers should be secured before transporting to prevent spills
~ Maximum 10 gallons per person will be accepted each week.
The types of paint that are accepted: oil-based paint, latex paint, wood stains, lacquer, enamel, shellac, varnish and paint thinners
What is not accepted: adhesives/glues, waxes/polishes, putty/filler, tar, sealant, cleaners or foam, any household hazardous cleaners or chemicals
How does paint get recycled?
Latex based paint that is dropped off at participating locations will be recycled into new paint. At the paint recycling facility, paint is sorted out by color. Common colors are then combined in a large vat and blended to make unique colors of paint that can contain up to 150,000 different colors! Just 1 gallon of recycled latex paint saves 100 kilowatt-hours of energy, and keeps 115 pounds of Carbon Dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
Oil-based paints are incinerated and repurposed as an alternative fuel.
Metal and plastic paint cans are recycled separately.
Paint Take-back Locations in Clark County
- Ace Hardware, 13009 NE Hwy 99
- Ace Hardware, 1605 W Main St., Battle Ground
- Filbin's Ace Hardware, 809 NE Minnehaha St.
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 10811 SE Mill Plain Blvd.
- Miller Paint, 14300 NE 20th Ave.
- Miller Paint, 11717 NE 78th Way, Suite 101
- Miller Paint, 2607 NE Andresen Road
- Miller Paint, 111 NE 164th Ave.
- Parkrose Hardware, 16509 SE First St.
- Parkrose Hardware, 8000 E Mill Plain Blvd.
- Parkrose Hardware, 8002 NE 6th Ave.
- Rodda Paint & Décor, 7723 NE Fourth Plain Blvd.
Transfer Stations
- Central Transfer and Recycling Center, 11034 NE 117th Ave., 8 am to 4 pm Friday to Sunday.
- West Van Materials Recovery Center, 6601 NW Old Lower River Road, 8 am to 4 pm Friday and Saturday.
- Washougal Transfer Station, 4020 S Grant St., 8 am to 4 pm first and third Saturday of the month.