Paint disposal in California
What California says to do with paint, read off CalRecycle's own page on 2026-08-19.
California bans paint from disposal on land or in water — take leftover paint to a PaintCare drop-off site. Read from CalRecycle · checked 2026-08-19
Never pour paint down the drain, on the ground, or burn it (Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet).
Intentionally drying paint without a permit to treat hazardous waste is prohibited in California (CalRecycle).
Where to take it
Sites are listed in the California Paint Stewardship Program (PaintCare) drop-off site finder.
The statute California cites is AB 1526 (2023); SB 1143 (2024).
Counties differ — verify with your local program.
All 50 states: Can you throw away paint? — the federal baseline, what happens to it, and every state's rule with the page it was read from.