If you’ve ever stared at a pile of old paint cans in your garage and wondered “Can I just throw these away?” — you’re not alone. Paint disposal in Seattle is confusing, and the rules depend on what kind of paint you have.

Here’s the short version: latex paint and oil-based paint follow completely different rules. Get it wrong and you could face fines — or worse, contaminate local waterways.

We’ll walk you through your options, from DIY drop-offs to having us haul it all away.

Latex Paint vs. Oil-Based Paint: Why It Matters

Latex (water-based) paint is the most common type found in homes. It’s non-hazardous once it’s dry. You can solidify small amounts by leaving the lid off or mixing with cat litter, then toss the dried can in your regular garbage.

Oil-based paint, stains, and solvents are classified as hazardous waste in Washington State. You cannot put them in the trash, pour them down a drain, or leave them at the curb. They must go to an authorized collection facility.

DIY Options for Small Amounts

If you only have a few cans, here are your free options in the Seattle area:

There are over 150 PaintCare drop-off sites across Washington State, including several in the Seattle metro area. Find one at paintcare.org.

The nearest King County Hazardous Waste facility for North Seattle is at 12550 Stone Ave N, open Sunday through Tuesday, 9 AM – 5 PM.

But What If You Have a Lot of Paint?

A few cans in the garage? Sure, drive them to a drop-off. But what about dozens of cans from a renovation, an estate cleanout, or a commercial property?

That’s where we come in.

Junk B Gone handles paint removal for homeowners, property managers, and contractors across the Seattle area. We pick it up, sort it, and make sure every can gets disposed of properly — so you don’t have to make ten trips to the hazardous waste facility.

Our Partnership with GreenSheen Paint

We don’t just dispose of paint — we make sure as much as possible gets recycled.

Junk B Gone partners with GreenSheen Paint, a Kent, WA-based company that takes collected latex paint and turns it into high-quality, low-VOC recycled paint. Their proprietary process cleans and refines old paint into ready-to-use house paint that’s sold at nearly 200 retail locations nationwide.

That means when you call us to haul away your old paint, it doesn’t just end up in a landfill. It gets a second life as new paint — and you helped make that happen.

Who Calls Us for Paint Removal?

• Property managers dealing with unit turnovers where tenants left behind cans of paint
• Contractors wrapping up renovation projects with leftover materials
• Homeowners cleaning out garages, basements, and sheds
• Estate cleanout teams handling decades of accumulated paint
• Businesses clearing out old inventory or maintenance supplies

No matter the quantity, we handle the heavy lifting and the paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put paint cans in my regular trash?

Only if it’s latex paint that’s completely dried out. Remove the lid, let it dry (or mix with cat litter), then put the hardened can in your garbage. Oil-based paint can never go in regular trash.

How much does paint removal cost?

It depends on the quantity and whether it’s mixed with other junk. We give free estimates — just call or text us a photo and we’ll quote it on the spot.

Do you take oil-based paint too?

Yes. We handle both latex and oil-based paint, plus stains, primers, sealers, and solvents. Everything gets routed to the right facility.

What happens to the paint after you pick it up?

Latex paint goes to our partner GreenSheen Paint in Kent, WA, where it’s recycled into new, low-VOC paint. Oil-based paint and solvents go to authorized hazardous waste facilities.