Drop it off free
12 free paint drop-off sites within 12 miles.
- Miners Ace HardwarePaint store0.7 mi
- WalmartPaint store2.1 mi
- Sherwin-WilliamsPaint store2.1 mi
Paso Robles, CA Paint Disposal
Everything you need to get rid of leftover paint responsibly in Paso Robles.
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All drop-off locations in and near Paso Robles15
Start with these
Paso Robles Landfill Household Hazardous Waste Facility (IWMA)
9000 Highway 46 East, Paso Robles, CA 93446
- Accepts
- The city lists paints, pesticides, solvents, oil, gasoline and fuels, propane tanks, batteries and medical waste. PaintCare lists latex and oil-based paint, stain and varnish. IWMA's list adds aerosols.
- Who can use it
- San Luis Obispo County residents. Very small businesses must apply to IWMA's VSQG program and come by appointment.
- Hours
- Saturdays only, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. No appointment needed for residents. IWMA lists it closed Nov. 26–28 and Dec. 24–26, 2026, which takes out Saturday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Dec. 26.
- Load limits
- Up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds per visit for free. Residents with more can ask IWMA for a Large Quantity Disposal.
- Fees
- Free for San Luis Obispo County residents up to the limit. This is separate from the landfill's paid trash fees.
The landfill is about 8.5 miles east of the Highway 101/46 East junction; turn north into the facility at Union Road. Enter by crossing the scale house, not through the exit lane. Secure and tarp your load. PaintCare lists the IWMA main line, 805-782-8530, for this site and 800-400-0811 for businesses.
Chicago Grade Landfill Household Hazardous Waste Facility (IWMA, Templeton)
2290 Homestead Road, Templeton, CA 93465
- Accepts
- Household paint, aerosols and other household hazardous waste on IWMA's accepted list.
- Who can use it
- San Luis Obispo County residents. Businesses need IWMA approval and an appointment.
- Hours
- Saturdays only, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Same 2026 holiday closures as Paso Robles (Nov. 26–28 and Dec. 24–26).
- Load limits
- IWMA's residential limit is 15 gallons or 125 pounds per visit. PaintCare's listing for this site says 27 gallons, so call before bringing more than 15.
- Fees
- Free for San Luis Obispo County residents up to the limit.
It's open the same Saturday hours as the Paso Robles Landfill site, so it isn't a weekday backup. Use it if it's closer, for example from Templeton or north Atascadero. PaintCare lists it under Atascadero with IWMA's main line, 805-782-8530; IWMA lists 805-466-2985.
Sherwin-Williams, Riverside Avenue (PaintCare drop-off)
1313 Riverside Ave., Paso Robles, CA 93446
- Accepts
- Latex and oil-based house paint, stain and varnish in containers up to 5 gallons.
- Who can use it
- Households and businesses in California, per PaintCare's listing.
- Hours
- PaintCare says paint is taken during regular business hours. Call for hours and room.
- Load limits
- 20 gallons per visit, per PaintCare's listing (the highest limit among Paso Robles stores).
- Fees
- Free for PaintCare products.
No spray cans, unlabeled, leaking or empty containers. Thinner and spray paint have to wait for a Saturday at the landfill.
12 PaintCare drop-off sites within 12 miles of Paso Robles.
10 paint stores and 2 hazardous waste sites, 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.
Miners Ace Hardware
0.7 mi1151 Creston Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446
- Limits
- Limit: 10 gallons per visit.
Walmart
2.1 mi180 Niblick Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
Sherwin-Williams
2.1 mi1313 Riverside Ave, Paso Robles, CA 93446
- Limits
- Limit: 20 gallons per visit.
Blakes True Value Home Center
2.1 mi1701 Riverside Ave, Paso Robles, CA 93446
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
Outdoor Supply Hardware
4 mi2005 Theatre Dr, Paso Robles, CA 93446
- Limits
- Limit: 10 gallons per visit.
Hewitt Hardware
6.3 mi428 S Main St, Templeton, CA 93465
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
Paso Robles Landfill HHW Facility
7 mi9000 Highway 46 E, Paso Robles, CA 93446
- Who
- Households and VSQG Businesses in San Luis Obispo County
- Hours
- Saturday 11 am - 3 pm. Households and businesses visit https://iwma.com/what-to-do/hhw/
- Limits
- Maximum amount you can drop off at one time for free is 15 gallons. Businesses must call first (800) 400-0811
- 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
- Business that are eligible to use the program must submit a form online to set up an appointment and pay applicable fees.
Chicago Grade Landfill HHW Facility
7.4 mi2290 Homestead Rd, Atascadero, CA 93465
- Who
- HHW and VSQG Businesses in San Luis Obispo County
- Hours
- Saturday, 11 am -3 pm. Households and businesses visit https://iwma.com/what-to-do/hhw/
- Limits
- Limit: 27 gallons. Business that are eligible to use the program must submit a form online to set up an appointment and pay applicable fees.
- 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.
Show 4 more sites
Home Depot
7.6 mi905 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
Sherwin-Williams
9.7 mi5995 Entrada Ave, Atascadero, CA 93422
- Limits
- Limit: 20 gallons per visit.
Terra Paints
10.7 mi8384 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
Miners Ace Hardware
11.1 mi9370 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
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 Paso Robles cleanout?4
Weekday paint cleanup in town
The landfill site is Saturday-only, so take house paint to Sherwin-Williams on Riverside Avenue (up to 20 gallons). Call first to make sure there's room. Keep spray cans for Saturday.
Thanksgiving weekend cleanout
IWMA closes the North County sites Nov. 26–28, 2026, so there's no Saturday drop-off that weekend. Store chemicals safely until the next open Saturday, or use a PaintCare store for house paint.
Thirty gallons from a remodel
That's over the free 15-gallon limit per visit. Split it between stores (Sherwin-Williams takes 20) or ask IWMA for Large Quantity Disposal before you haul it out Highway 46.
Business paint from a winery or rental
Apply through IWMA's very small business program; you need an EPA ID number, and any invoice must be paid before the appointment. PaintCare stores that list businesses take house paint without this.
Paso Robles rules and tips5
THE LOCAL ANSWER
Bring paint, spray cans and thinner to the Paso Robles Landfill hazardous waste site, 9000 Highway 46 East, on a Saturday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; it's free for San Luis Obispo County residents, up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds. It's closed Saturday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Dec. 26, 2026. On weekdays, take house paint to a PaintCare store such as Sherwin-Williams on Riverside Avenue.
In Paso Robles, the county's hazardous waste drop-off is at the city landfill on Highway 46 East, and it's open only on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. San Luis Obispo County's IWMA runs it, and it's free for county residents. On other days, North County paint stores take house paint through PaintCare.
Saturday only, and two Saturdays are out
IWMA lists the North County sites closed Nov. 26–28 and Dec. 24–26, 2026. That removes the Saturdays after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plan around them.
Turn at Union Road
The landfill is about 8.5 miles east of the 101/46 East junction. Turn north at Union Road, then go through the scale house, not the exit lane. Tie down and tarp the load.
Templeton has the same hours
Chicago Grade Landfill, 2290 Homestead Road in Templeton, also takes household hazardous waste on Saturdays, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. It isn't a weekday option, but it may be closer from Templeton or Atascadero. Cold Canyon Landfill in San Luis Obispo (2268 Carpenter Canyon Road) is the county site open on weekdays: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Only count on stores PaintCare lists
IWMA's take-back page says every county retailer that sells paint "collects these items back from the public for free." Don't rely on that. PaintCare says stores volunteer to be drop-off sites, and IWMA's own Paso Robles list doesn't say which stores take paint. Use only stores on PaintCare's locator: in Paso Robles that's Sherwin-Williams (20 gallons), Outdoor Supply Hardware and Miners Ace (10 gallons each), and Blake's True Value and Walmart (5 gallons each). Call first.
Heritage Ranch has its own site
Heritage Ranch residents can use the Heritage Ranch Community Services District site on Fridays, 12–2 p.m. It's for Heritage Ranch residents only, so Paso Robles households can't use it.
Free pickup programs and other options
Other PaintCare stores in town are Outdoor Supply Hardware (2005 Theatre Dr.) and Miners Ace (1151 Creston Rd.), both 10 gallons a visit; Blake's True Value (1701 Riverside Ave.) and Walmart (180 Niblick Rd.) take 5. Hewitt Hardware in Templeton takes 5. If you have more than 15 gallons, ask IWMA about Large Quantity Disposal. For 100 gallons or more of house paint, PaintCare offers a free pickup. IWMA also lists temporary events for county residents at Cuesta College's San Luis Obispo campus (Parking Lot 3, off Highway 1) on Oct. 24, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19, 2026, with the same 15-gallon or 125-pound limit. The page doesn't give times.
Getting your paint ready
Keep paint in its original can with the label and a tight lid. Don't mix products. Put cans upright in a box, and keep thinner and spray cans separate for the landfill. Count your gallons; stores have their own limits, from 5 to 20 a visit.
Full preparation checklist →Paso Robles questions5
When can I drop off paint at the Paso Robles Landfill?
Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment is needed. It's closed Nov. 28 and Dec. 26, 2026.
Do I pay the landfill fee to drop off paint?
No. Hazardous waste up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds is free for county residents. The $35 flat fee is for trash loads.
Can I drop off paint on a weekday?
Yes, house paint at a PaintCare store. Spray cans and thinner have to wait for Saturday, or go to Cold Canyon in San Luis Obispo, which is open weekdays except Wednesday.
Can my vineyard or business use the landfill site?
Only through IWMA's very small business (VSQG) program, with approval and an appointment. Questions go to IWMA at 805-782-8530.
I live in San Miguel or Shandon. Where do I go?
The Paso Robles Landfill site serves all San Luis Obispo County residents on Saturdays. For house paint, the Paso Robles PaintCare stores are the nearest listed.
Sources and how we checked14
October 13, 2026: read IWMA's facility list, residential disposal page, 2026 closure notice, accepted waste streams, retail take-back list, VSQG page and Cuesta College event page; the City of Paso Robles hazardous waste and landfill pages (read in a browser; scripted requests are blocked); and PaintCare's locator data for Paso Robles, Templeton and Atascadero. Conflicts: PaintCare lists 805-782-8530 for the landfill site, IWMA and the city list 805-238-2028; PaintCare lists 805-782-8530 for Chicago Grade, IWMA lists 805-466-2985; PaintCare lists 27 gallons at Chicago Grade while IWMA's residential limit is 15 gallons or 125 pounds; the city says the business threshold is 200 pounds a month, IWMA says 220 pounds or 27 gallons; Heritage Ranch is 4870 Heritage Road on IWMA's page and 4860 on PaintCare's. IWMA's retail take-back page says every county retailer that sells batteries, fluorescent lights, thermostats, paints, sharps and medication "collects these items back from the public for free," and the city's hazardous waste page repeats this. We don't present that as a rule: PaintCare's retailer page says stores volunteer as drop-off sites, IWMA's Paso Robles list doesn't say which stores take paint and still names Orchard Supply Hardware, and it warns it may be out of date. We name only stores in PaintCare's locator data. VSQG prices weren't published. The Cuesta College event dates don't include hours on the page; move them to past tense as they pass, along with the November and December closures.
Checked October 13, 2026 against these sources, not by phone. How we research.
IWMA: household hazardous waste facilities in San Luis Obispo County ↗IWMA: residential hazardous waste disposal (limits and 2026 holiday closures) ↗IWMA: 2026 hazardous waste facility closures ↗IWMA: accepted waste streams ↗IWMA: retail take-back for consumers ↗IWMA: very small quantity generator (VSQG) program ↗IWMA: temporary household hazardous waste events at Cuesta College ↗City of Paso Robles: hazardous waste ↗City of Paso Robles: landfill (directions, hours, fees) ↗PaintCare California ↗PaintCare drop-off site locator ↗PaintCare program products ↗PaintCare large-volume pickup ↗PaintCare: information for retailers (drop-off sites volunteer) ↗
