Latex Paint Disposal

The County of Kauaʻi does not accept latex paint at the residents’ only Household Hazardous Waste collection events, because it’s not hazardous material. Latex paint (water-based, acrylic, or emulsion paint) is comprised mostly of water and can be safely disposed of in your household trash as long as it is absorbed or hardened. We encourage you to use old paint instead of disposing. If you have a large quantity of paint that can be donated for reuse, contact Habitat for Humanity in Hanapepe (335-0296) or Restore Kauai in Kapaa (639-3343) to see if they can accept your paint for reuse.

To absorb or harden latex paint

• Air dry. Allow the paint to dry by removing the lid and allowing liquids to evaporate. This works well for small quantities of paint (an inch or two in the bottom of the can), and can take several days.
• Absorb. Add shredded paper or old rags to the can  to absorb the liquid. You can also use a drying agent. Mix in an equal amount of an absorbent material and allowed to dry. Use kitty litter, sawdust, plaster of Paris, Oil-dri, or "waste paint hardeners" found at hardware stores.
• Pour thin layers (about 1" of paint) into a cardboard box lined with newspaper. Allow the paint to dry one layer at a time until all paint has hardened.

Once the paint is thoroughly dry, the remaining hardened paint may be discarded with your regular trash. Leave the lid off the can so the waste collector can see the paint is hardened. Place in a regular trash bag and put it out with your weekly rubbish collection.

Do Not

• DO NOT dump the paint on the ground or down storm drains where it will travel directly to surface and/or ground water.
• DO NOT pour paint down the drain. While small amounts of latex paint can safely be washed down the drain to a septic system or wastewater treatment plant, this practice should be kept to a minimum. Limit this to brush cleaning and other clean-up.
• DO NOT throw liquid paint in the regular trash. Leaking paint can spill out of waste collection trucks onto the roads making an unsightly mess that is very difficult to clean up.

Call Recycling Office at (808) 241-4841 for additional information on Household Hazardous Waste.