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Guide

How to Get Rid of Old Paint in Macomb County

Latex, oil based, half empty or rusted shut. Here's what to do with it.

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Office: (248) 495-8436

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Latex vs Oil BasedThey're handled differently

First, Check the Label

Paint gets handled two different ways depending on what's in the can. Latex paint is water based and cleans up with soap and water. Oil based paint, stains, varnish and thinners are solvent based and count as household hazardous waste.

Latex Paint: Dry It Out

Latex paint can go out with your regular trash once it's completely dry. Mix in cat litter, sand or a paint hardener, stir it and let it sit until it's solid.

Leave the lid off the can so the trash crew can see it's dried, and set it out with your regular garbage. Warren also takes solidified latex paint, lids off, at its recycling center.

Oil Based Paint, Stains and Solvents

These don't go in the trash. The Macomb County Health Department holds household hazardous waste collections for Macomb County residents, free of charge, on scheduled days. They usually run on select Fridays in the spring and fall, and you sign up for a time slot ahead.

Call the county's hotline at (586) 466-7923 or check the Health Department's website for the current schedule. Some townships also hold their own drop off days.

Don't Do This

  • Don't pour paint down the drain, into the storm sewer or onto the ground
  • Don't put liquid paint in the trash cart, even in a bag
  • Don't mix different products together in one can

Or Let Us Take It With Everything Else

Cleaning out a garage or basement with a shelf full of old paint? We can take the paint along with the rest of the junk. The price depends on the type of paint and how much there is, so we confirm it on site before we load anything.

We can't take chemicals or propane tanks.

How It Works

  1. 1. Text us a photo

    Send a picture of the pile, the garage, or the one heavy thing you can't move. Texting is fastest at (586) 843-7247.

  2. 2. We give you a price range

    You get a free quote and a time that works for you. Same day and weekend spots when our schedule is open.

  3. 3. We haul it away

    We show up, confirm your exact price before we start, load everything, and sweep up. No hidden fees. You don't even need to be home if you leave it curbside or in an open garage.

Questions

Can I throw away latex paint in Macomb County?

Yes, once it's completely dried out. Mix in cat litter or a hardener until it's solid, leave the lid off, and put it out with your trash.

Where do I take oil based paint?

To a Macomb County Health Department household hazardous waste collection. They're free for county residents and you schedule a time ahead. Call (586) 466-7923 for dates.

Will you take old paint cans?

Yes, as part of a pickup or cleanout. The price depends on the type and amount, and we confirm it on site.

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