Paint recycling
in Indiana.
Paint disposal in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Bloomington and South Bend. Indiana has no PaintCare program, so stores don’t take paint back for free. Your local solid waste district, usually run by your county, decides what happens to your paint.
Check your local rules.
Take oil-based paint, stain, thinner and spray paint to your local solid waste district’s household hazardous waste site or collection day. IDEM says household hazardous waste is regulated as solid waste, not as hazardous waste, and it sends residents to their local district. Latex rules differ by county. Allen County says dried latex can go out with the trash, lid off. South Bend bans paint of any kind from its trash bins. Some districts charge for latex; Monroe County gives away good paint on a free reuse shelf. Most sites only serve their own county’s residents, and many only open on certain days, so check your district before you go.
No free state program.
Indiana doesn’t have a statewide paint program, so it depends on your city or county. Each city guide shows where latex and oil-based paint can go.
4 cities
Bloomington ↗
In Bloomington, Indiana, all paint goes to the Waste Reduction District of Monroe County’s South Walnut site at 3400 S Walnut St. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday. Oil-based paint and stain are free for Monroe County residents. Good latex is free to donate, and staff put it on a free-to-take shelf. Latex that can’t be reused costs a fee per can.
Checked October 7, 2026IndianaFort Wayne ↗
Fort Wayne sends paint questions to the Allen County Department of Environmental Management. The county’s hazardous waste site at 2260 Carroll Road is open every Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., for Allen County residents. Latex paint costs $2 a gallon there. Or dry it out and set the open can next to your trash.
Checked October 7, 2026IndianaIndianapolis ↗
In Indianapolis and the rest of Marion County, leftover paint goes to ToxDrop. These are Saturday drop-off days run by the city at two places: Traders Point on the northwest side and the Perry Township Government Center on the south side. You can bring up to 20 gallons of liquid each visit. There is no weekday hazardous waste site in Marion County.
Checked October 7, 2026IndianaSouth Bend ↗
In South Bend, Indiana, take paint to the St. Joseph County Household Hazardous Waste Center at 828 Kerr Street. It’s open six days a week, all year, and the county says it’s free for St. Joseph County residents for now. The city doesn’t allow paint of any kind in its trash bins. A second county site in Mishawaka is open only part of the year.
Checked October 7, 2026Spray cans, thinner and other chemicals?
Paint stores won’t take these. Take them to your local household hazardous waste site. Your city guide lists it.
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