Dates change. Check with your county before you go. Events can be moved or cancelled for weather. Hours, limits and residency rules are set by each county or city.
How to get rid of old paint in Tennessee
Short answer: latex (water-based) paint goes in the trash once it's completely dry. Oil-based paint goes to a county drop-off. Paint is not taken at the state's mobile collection days, so don't bring it to one.
Step 1: Check the label
Metro Nashville's guidance: latex paint says "latex", "water-based" or "acrylic" on the can. Oil-based paint says "oil based" or "alkyd". Oil-based paint, stains, varnish and thinners are the ones treated as hazardous waste.
Step 2: If it's latex, dry it out and trash it
- Use it up or give it away first. TDEC and Shelby County both suggest this. Shelby County notes schools and community, religious and theater groups often take unopened cans, especially white paint.
- An inch or less left: take the lid off and let it dry in a well-ventilated spot away from kids and pets (Metro Nashville). Shelby County says cans a quarter full or less dry in a few days.
- More than that: stir in kitty litter, sawdust, shredded paper or mulch, or a store-bought paint hardener, until it's solid (Metro Nashville, TDEC, Shelby County).
- Then: bag the dried can and put it in your regular trash. Never pour paint into a storm drain, sink or toilet (Metro Nashville).
Step 3: If it's oil-based, take it to a drop-off
Oil-based paint should be used up, given away, or carried to the county paint collection facility (if available). (TDEC). To qualify for state mobile collection service, a county must provide regular collection of oil-based paint at a fixed location (such as a convenience or recycling center); the state contractor picks it up at no cost to the county. Counties may also manage latex paint by recycling or solidification. So the first place to ask is your county's convenience center or recycling center. Below is what the big-city facilities say on their own pages.
Nashville (Davidson County)
- Oil-based paint
- Accepted at Metro's HHW drop-off (Ezell Pike and East convenience centers). Metro lists oil-based paint, stain, varnish and paint thinner as acceptable.
- Latex paint
- Not accepted (latex/acrylic paint and water-based stains are on Metro's unacceptable list). Metro's latex paint sheet says to use it up, give it away, or dry it out and put the can, in a trash bag, in your regular trash.
- Contact
- Metro HHW questions: 615-862-5000
Chattanooga (Hamilton County)
- Oil-based paint
- Accepted at the Chattanooga Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed some holidays).
- Latex paint
- Not accepted. The city says latex/acrylic paint is not accepted because it is not toxic.
- Contact
- Solid Waste and Recycling: (423) 643-6311
Memphis and Shelby County
- Oil-based paint
- Accepted at the Shelby County HHW Facility, 6305 Haley Road, Memphis, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shelby County residents only (car tag and ZIP checked), limit 100 lb per vehicle every 30 days.
- Latex paint
- Not accepted. The county says cans one-fourth full or less dry in a few days with the lid off; for fuller cans add mulch or cat litter. Once dry, put it in a separate bag in your garbage.
- Contact
- HHW Facility: 901-222-7729
Outside those areas, call your county solid waste department, as TDEC advises. If your county has one of the state's year-round temporary HHW containers (Giles, Chester, Grainger, McMinn, Blount, Loudon, Sevier), ask that site whether it takes oil-based paint before you drive over; TDEC's page lists their hours but not a paint policy.
Common questions
Can I bring paint to a TDEC collection day? No. Paint is no longer accepted at TDEC mobile household hazardous waste collection days. TDEC says to contact your local solid waste department for guidance.
What about paint thinner, stain and varnish? These are accepted at Metro Nashville's HHW drop-off, and TDEC's mobile events take used strippers and thinners. Water-based stains are treated like latex paint in Nashville and are not accepted.
Is there a paint recycling (PaintCare) drop-off in Tennessee? We didn't find a Tennessee paint stewardship program on any of the official pages above, so we don't list one here.