Drop it off free
2 free paint drop-off sites within 12 miles.
- Sherwin-WilliamsPaint store2.5 mi
- RP LumberPaint store3.2 mi
- Sherwin-WilliamsPaint store18.8 mi
Mount Vernon, IL Paint Disposal
Everything you need to get rid of leftover paint responsibly in Mount Vernon.
NOW AVAILABLE IN MOUNT VERNON
Paint recycling pickup. Book online.
Book a pickup $89 minimum · No next-day surcharge
All drop-off locations in and near Mount Vernon5
Start with these
Sherwin-Williams, Broadway Street, Mount Vernon (PaintCare drop-off)
4805 Broadway St #A, Mount Vernon, IL 62864
- Accepts
- Latex or oil-based house paint, stain and varnish, in the original can with its label, up to 5-gallon size. Spray cans, unlabeled cans, leaking cans and empty cans are turned away.
- Who can use it
- Any Illinois household or business, per PaintCare's listing.
- Hours
- PaintCare says paint is taken whenever the store is open. We didn't check the store's hours. Call before you drive out, and ask if they have room for your load.
- Load limits
- Up to 5 gallons each visit.
- Fees
- Free.
It's on the west side of town, about 2.5 miles from the center of Mount Vernon in a straight line. It takes paint only; thinner and pesticides need a hazardous waste collection such as Madison County's.
RP Lumber, North Sparrow Lane, Mount Vernon (PaintCare drop-off)
12585 N Sparrow Ln, Mount Vernon, IL 62864
- Accepts
- House paint (water-based or oil-based), stain and varnish in labeled original containers no larger than 5 gallons. No aerosols.
- Who can use it
- PaintCare lists it for both households and businesses in Illinois.
- Hours
- Paint goes in during regular business hours, according to PaintCare. Lumberyard hours weren't confirmed for this guide, so phone ahead.
- Load limits
- 5 gallons per trip.
- Fees
- No charge.
The city of Mt. Vernon names RP Lumber and Sherwin-Williams as the two places in town for paint. Both have the same 5-gallon cap, so a 10-gallon cleanout can be split between them in one afternoon.
Madison County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, Wood River (monthly, by appointment)
249 N Old St. Louis Rd, Wood River, IL 62095
- Accepts
- Oil-based paint, thinner, solvents, pesticides, cleaners and other household chemicals. Latex paint is not taken; the county sends latex to PaintCare sites.
- Who can use it
- The county page says its hazardous waste collections are free for all Illinois residents, but another line on the same page says events are free for Madison County residents. PaintCare lists the site for Illinois households (no businesses), by appointment. Call 618-296-5237 or email recycling@madisoncountyil.gov to confirm a Jefferson County address is fine before you book.
- Hours
- Monthly collection days by appointment only. The county says collections are usually on the second Saturday of the month. Its calendar lists November 14 and December 12, 2026, then one date a month in 2027, starting January 9, 2027. Book a time through the county's online scheduler. Illinois EPA's August release lists different days (first Saturday and third Friday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.); go by the county's own calendar and your appointment.
- Load limits
- No limit is posted.
- Fees
- Free.
About 75 miles from Mount Vernon in a straight line, near Alton. It's the only year-round, scheduled chemical drop-off in southern Illinois listed by Illinois EPA. No business waste.
2 PaintCare drop-off sites within 12 miles of Mount Vernon.
5 paint stores and 0 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 Illinois
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.
Sherwin-Williams
2.5 mi4805 Broadway St #A, Mount Vernon, IL 62864
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
RP Lumber
3.2 mi12585 N Sparrow Ln, Mount Vernon, IL 62864
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
Sherwin-Williams
18.8 mi230 S Locust St, Centralia, IL 62801
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
Ricks Ace Hardware
19.5 mi904 W Broadway, Centralia, IL 62801
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
Buchheit of Centralia
20.1 mi1340 W McCord St, Centralia, IL 62801
- 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 Mount Vernon cleanout?4
You're cleaning out a garage in Ina or Woodlawn
Neither town has a PaintCare site. Bring the cans into Mount Vernon. RP Lumber (N Sparrow Ln) and Sherwin-Williams (Broadway) are both on the west side of town. Each takes 5 gallons per visit, so 10 gallons means one stop at each.
You have a can of thinner and some half-used spray paint
The stores won't take either one, and the transfer station refuses thinner and aerosols. Keep them sealed and book a Madison County appointment in Wood River. Ask first if a Jefferson County address is OK; the county page says both 'all Illinois residents' and 'Madison County residents.'
You were going to put paint out with Friday bulk pickup
Republic's Friday bulk pickup (call 1-800-631-1156 by Wednesday) specifically turns down paint, asbestos and hazardous materials. The same city page also lists 1-800-634-0215 under "Arrange a Bulk Pick Up," so try that number if the first doesn't work. Take paint cans to a store, and schedule the furniture separately.
You manage rentals and have 100+ gallons
That's 20 store trips at 5 gallons each. PaintCare offers free large-volume pickup for 100 gallons or more of house paint, stain and varnish. Ask PaintCare whether your load qualifies before hauling it around.
Mount Vernon rules and tips4
THE LOCAL ANSWER
Take latex or oil-based house paint, stain and varnish to RP Lumber (12585 N Sparrow Ln) or Sherwin-Williams (4805 Broadway St #A); both are free PaintCare drop-offs the city names, 5 gallons per visit. Paint is not allowed in Mt. Vernon's trash or recycling carts. For thinner and spray cans, book a free appointment at Madison County's Wood River facility (November 14 or December 12, 2026), and call first to confirm out-of-county residents can use it.
In Mount Vernon (Jefferson County, Illinois), the city itself points you to two free PaintCare drop-offs for leftover paint: RP Lumber and Sherwin-Williams. Paint can't go in your Republic Services trash cart, the recycling cart or the Rackaway Street transfer station. Jefferson County has no hazardous waste collection of its own, so thinner and spray cans have to travel, most often to Madison County's monthly appointment days in Wood River.
The city's own list names two paint stores
Mt. Vernon's recycling page lists RP Lumber (12585 N Sparrow Ln) and Sherwin-Williams (4805 Broadway St #A) for latex and oil-based paint, stain and varnish in original containers up to 5 gallons. PaintCare's locator lists the same two. There's no third site in town.
Not in the cart, not at the transfer station
The city says paint can't go in the blue garbage cart or the green-lid recycling cart, and the Friday bulk pickup refuses paint too. The Republic transfer station at 1106 Rackaway Street (618-242-3701, weekdays 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m.) won't take liquid paint, thinner or aerosol products. Empty spray cans can go in the recycling cart.
Ina, Woodlawn, Bluford and Benton have no drop-off
PaintCare lists nothing in Ina, Woodlawn, Bluford, Waltonville, Dix, Wayne City, Benton or McLeansboro. Mount Vernon's two stores are the closest for all of them. Next nearest are Centralia (Sherwin-Williams on S Locust, Rick's Ace on W Broadway, Buchheit on W McCord), Salem Building Center and RP Lumber in Odin, each about 19 to 22 miles away in a straight line.
Chemicals: Carbondale already happened, Wood River is monthly
Southern Illinois's 2026 state collection was June 6 at the SIU Arena lot in Carbondale. The southernmost fall stop was Mattoon on October 3, also already held. Madison County's facility in Wood River runs appointment days on November 14 and December 12, 2026, and monthly in 2027. Illinois EPA's Decatur collection (set for October 24) is open to all Illinois residents too, but it's about 105 miles away in a straight line.
Free pickup programs and other options
If both Mount Vernon stores are full, Centralia has three PaintCare sites about 19 to 20 miles northwest in a straight line, and Salem Building Center (1217 S Broadway Ave, Salem) is about 21 miles north. For thinner, solvents and oil-based paint you'd rather not take to a store, book a Madison County appointment in Wood River. A contractor, landlord or church with 100 gallons or more can ask PaintCare for a free large-volume pickup.
Getting your paint ready
Keep paint in its original can with the label readable and the lid hammered shut. Stack cans upright in a box so they don't tip on Route 15 or I-64. Put thinner, spray paint and other chemicals in a separate box for a hazardous waste appointment; stores won't take them. Call the store first to make sure they have room.
Full preparation checklist →Mount Vernon questions5
Where can I drop off old paint in Mount Vernon, IL?
RP Lumber at 12585 N Sparrow Ln (618-242-3370) and Sherwin-Williams at 4805 Broadway St #A (618-242-5480). Both are free PaintCare drop-offs and take up to 5 gallons per visit.
Can I put paint in my trash cart if the lid is on tight?
No. Mt. Vernon lists paint among the items that can't go in the garbage cart, and Republic's transfer station on Rackaway Street refuses liquid paint. Take it to one of the two PaintCare stores instead.
Does Jefferson County have a hazardous waste day?
We found none. The nearest 2026 state collection was June 6 in Carbondale, already held. Madison County's Wood River facility has appointment days on November 14 and December 12, 2026.
Do the stores take spray paint?
No. PaintCare sites don't take aerosols. Empty spray cans can go in your green-lid recycling cart; full or partly full ones need a hazardous waste collection.
Does it cost anything?
No. PaintCare drop-offs are free, and so are Madison County's and Illinois EPA's collections.
Sources and how we checked13
Checked October 16, 2026; no calls or visits. The City of Mt. Vernon's recycling, garbage and bulk pages were read directly. They name RP Lumber and Sherwin-Williams for paint and list paint as banned from the carts and the Rackaway Street transfer station. PaintCare's locator data matches the two stores. We found no Jefferson County or city hazardous waste collection page. Illinois EPA's 2026 schedule had Carbondale (June 6, held) as the only southern stop. Madison County's page lists Wood River dates through 2027 but gives two different residency statements. Illinois EPA's release lists Wood River days that differ from the county's calendar. The bulk page gives two Republic numbers for scheduling (1-800-631-1156 in the text, 1-800-634-0215 in the contact box). Several older city news posts (electronics drives at 1201 Casey Avenue) now return 404, so we didn't use them. Store hours weren't confirmed.
Checked October 16, 2026 against these sources, not by phone. How we research.
City of Mt. Vernon: recycling ↗City of Mt. Vernon: garbage ↗City of Mt. Vernon: bulk item collection and Republic transfer station ↗PaintCare Illinois ↗PaintCare drop-off site locator ↗PaintCare large-volume pickup ↗KBSI on PaintCare drop-offs in Mt. Vernon (December 2025) ↗Madison County household hazardous waste collections ↗Illinois EPA fall 2026 HHW announcement ↗University of Illinois Extension: spring 2026 hazardous waste collections ↗Illinois EPA Carbondale event page ↗Illinois EPA Decatur event page ↗Illinois EPA: paint ↗
