Drop it off free
3 free paint drop-off sites within 12 miles.
- PPG PaintsPaint store0.5 mi
- Sherwin-WilliamsPaint store0.7 mi
- Humboldt Waste Management AuthorityHazardous waste site1.6 mi
Eureka, CA Paint Disposal
Everything you need to get rid of leftover paint responsibly in Eureka.
NOW AVAILABLE IN EUREKA
Paint recycling pickup. Book online.
Book a pickup From $89 for up to 5 gallons · Online booking coming soon
All drop-off locations in and near Eureka4
Start with these
HWMA Household Hazardous Waste Facility
1059 West Hawthorne Street, Eureka, CA 95501
- Accepts
- House paint and paint-related hazardous waste. Keep latex, oil paint and solvents labeled and apart.
- Who can use it
- Households. Small businesses by weekday appointment, with separate fees and rules.
- Hours
- Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–noon and 1–3 p.m.
- Load limits
- 15 gallons (by can size) or 125 pounds of household hazardous waste.
- Fees
- HWMA's 2026–27 fees make household hazardous waste free up to 15 gallons per trip per day, counted by can size, not fill. Charges above that (paint $5.00) don't say per what, so call 707-441-2005 for a price.
Since April 6, 2026, hazardous waste customers enter by the newer gate west of the old recycling-center gate, follow the red arrows counterclockwise and leave by the old gate. Ask before bringing damaged cans.
3 PaintCare drop-off sites within 12 miles of Eureka.
3 paint stores and 1 hazardous waste site, closest first. Paint stores take house paint, stain and varnish, usually up to a set amount per visit. Hazardous waste sites also take chemicals like thinner, but some only serve local residents. Call before you go.
Rules most stores here share
Who: Households and Businesses in California
Hours: Paint is accepted during regular business hours. Call ahead for hours and to make sure the store can accept the amount and type of paint you would like to recycle.
Products: This site accepts latex and oil-based house paint, stains and varnish in containers up to 5 gallons in size. This site does not accept aerosols (spray paint or other spray products), containers without original labels, or containers that are leaking or empty.
Each listing below shows only what’s different, plus its limit.
PPG Paints
0.5 mi600 J St, Eureka, CA 95501
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
Sherwin-Williams
0.7 mi707 E St, Eureka, CA 95501
- Limits
- Limit: 20 gallons per visit.
Humboldt Waste Management Authority
1.6 mi1059 W Hawthorne St, Eureka, CA 95501
- Who
- Households and VSQG Businesses in Humboldt County
- Hours
- Households Monday-Saturday 8 am-12 pm and 1 pm - 3 pm. Businesses by appointment Monday-Friday, call (707) 441-2005. Saturday appointments are not available businesses.
- Limits
- Limit: 15 gallons per visit.
- Products
- This site accepts latex and oil-based house paint, stains and varnish in containers up to 5 gallons in size. This site also takes most other household hazardous waste -- contact the site for details and restrictions. Please do not bring empty, leaking or unlabeled containers. SOME BUSINESSES may use this program by appointment or on special days. Contact the program for details if your paint (or other hazardous waste) is from a business.
- Notes
- Area served: Humboldt County
Recology Eel River
14.7 mi965 Riverwalk Dr, Fortuna, CA 95540
- Who
- Households and VSQG Businesses in Fortuna Arcata
- Hours
- Monday-Friday, 8 am - 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am - 4 pm
- Limits
- Limit: 15 gallons per visit.
- Products
- This site accepts latex and oil-based house paint, stains and varnish in containers up to 5 gallons in size. This site does not accept aerosols (spray paint or other spray products), containers without original labels, or containers that are leaking. This site will accept empty containers.
From PaintCare’s drop-off map ↗, updated October 6, 2026. Hours and limits are PaintCare’s. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Which option fits your Eureka cleanout?3
Half-full cans fill several boxes
Three five-gallon cans hit the 15-gallon limit even when partly empty. Write down sizes before loading, and don't pour paint together to fit more.
Your good leftovers could be used
HWMA has a small paint reuse shed, when there's room. Eureka also lists TLC Teach Learn Create Humboldt, 2050 Peninsula Drive in Manila, which takes reusable supplies including paint. Call 707-502-8309 first. No unusable or leaking paint.
The can is leaking or damaged
Call HWMA at 707-441-2005 for packing steps before moving it. Households and weekday business appointments follow different rules. Don't bring an unstable can or use the regular recycling area.
Eureka rules and tips2
THE LOCAL ANSWER
Take household paint to HWMA's hazardous waste drop-off on Hawthorne Street, Monday–Saturday, closed noon–1 p.m. Under 2026–27 fees, up to 15 gallons per trip per day is free, counted by can size. Ask for a price above that.
Hawthorne Street is still Eureka's hazardous waste drop-off, even though HWMA's general recycling center closed.
They count the can, not what's in it
HWMA measures by container size. Three half-used five-gallon cans fill the whole 15-gallon limit.
Mixed advice on dried paint
HWMA says dried latex can go in the trash; PaintCare's California FAQ says it shouldn't. Drop it off, or ask HWMA first.
Free pickup programs and other options
HWMA has a paint reuse shed when there's paint in it. Rather than hauling in 100 gallons or more, request PaintCare's free pickup review.
Getting your paint ready
Keep containers upright, sealed and labeled. Sort before you go, and stay in your car while staff direct unloading.
Full preparation checklist →Eureka questions2
Is the closed recycling center the same thing?
No. Follow the hazardous waste page, not the old recycling center listing.
Can a business show up without booking?
No. HWMA has weekday business appointments and a separate small business program.
Sources and how we checked9
Rechecked October 6: HWMA's hazardous waste page, the April 6, 2026 traffic notice and the approved 2026–27 fees. The fee list doesn't say what charges are per, so ask HWMA. The city still lists a recycling center HWMA says is closed for good; we follow HWMA.
Checked October 6, 2026 against these sources, not by phone. How we research.
