Everything you need to get rid of leftover paint responsibly in Hays.
1515 W 55th St, Hays, KS 67601
The City of Hays calls this the Ellis County Transfer Station or Hazardous Waste Facility and gives the landfill's number as 785-628-9460. For questions about what's taken, the county says to call the Household Hazardous Waste Division at 785-628-9449. Environmental Services Director: Justin Craig.
Your state doesn’t have a PaintCare program, so stores here don’t take paint for free. These are the public drop-off programs PaintCare’s map lists, closest first. Most only serve their own residents and some charge a fee. Call before you go.
1515 W 55th St, Hays, KS 67601
1710 S Rd, Plainville, KS 67663
From PaintCare’s drop-off map ↗, updated October 6, 2026. Hours and limits are PaintCare’s. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Take them to 1515 W. 55th St. Stains and finishes are on the county's list. Keep the trip under five gallons, and keep oil-soaked rags out; the county won't take them.
Latex isn't on Ellis County's list, and the city won't collect paint cans in the trash. Call 785-628-9449 to ask what the county wants you to do. If the paint is still good, give it away.
The city's page says the 2026 cleanup begins October 19 and asks for four piles: building debris, limbs, metal and other trash. Hazardous waste isn't picked up, so set paint aside for a separate trip to the county site.
There may be far more than five gallons. The county says it may waive the per-visit limit in rare cases like a move or an abandoned property. Call before you load the car.
Ellis County handles business waste through a Small Quantity Generator program, which charges a fee. The county's page doesn't list a separate number, so call the Household Hazardous Waste Division at 785-628-9449 to ask how to sign up.
Take oil-based paint, stain and thinner to the Ellis County Solid Waste Facility at 1515 W. 55th St.; it's free for Ellis County residents, up to five gallons per visit. Latex isn't on the county's list, so call 785-628-9449 before you bring it. Don't set paint out with your Hays trash or the fall cleanup.
This guide is for Hays, Kansas, in Ellis County. Ellis County runs a 14-county regional household hazardous waste program from its Solid Waste Facility at 1515 W. 55th St. Its list includes oil-based paint, stains, thinners and paint stripper, but not latex paint. The City of Hays won't collect paint or paint cans with the trash. Kansas has no PaintCare program.
Ellis County's accepted list names oil-based paints, stains, finishes, wood preservatives, thinners, turpentine and paint stripper. Latex isn't on it, and PaintCare's locator listing for the site says no latex. Call the Household Hazardous Waste Division at 785-628-9449 to ask what to do with latex before you bring any.
The county's hazardous waste page says 55 pounds or five gallons per visit. Its landfill page and FAQ say 50 pounds or five gallons. Plan on five gallons. The county says it may waive the limit in rare cases, such as a move or an abandoned property.
The city's Fall Cleanup page says the 2026 cleanup begins October 19, with set-out allowed from October 16. It also says the city won't pick up hazardous waste, and its hazardous waste page lists paint and paint cans. Take those to the county site. Fall Cleanup is only for City of Hays residential customers who pay for trash service.
The hazardous waste page doesn't post its own hours. The landfill at the same address is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.-3 p.m., with Saturday 8 a.m.-noon from November to March. It stops taking loads 15 minutes before closing. PaintCare's listing shows Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. instead.
Ellis County says there is no fee for individuals in Ellis County. PaintCare's listing names Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Phillips, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Sheridan, Sherman and Trego counties. If you live outside Ellis County, ask whether you'll pay. Businesses use a Small Quantity Generator program for a fee.
Kansas has no PaintCare program, so stores don't take paint back. For latex, Ellis County doesn't list it and the city won't collect paint or paint cans, so call 785-628-9449 first. Usable paint can go to a neighbor or community group. If you're clearing out a move or an abandoned property, ask the county whether it will waive the five-gallon limit.
Keep products in their original containers with tight lids and labels. Stay under five gallons per trip. Don't bring rags soaked with oil or stain; the county lists them as unacceptable. Secure your load: since January 1, 2026 the landfill adds 50% to the weight disposal fee if your load isn't secured or drops or leaks on the way in.
Full preparation checklist →To the Ellis County Solid Waste Facility, 1515 W. 55th St. It's free for Ellis County individuals, up to five gallons a visit.
Latex isn't on the county's accepted list, and PaintCare's listing says no latex. Call 785-628-9449 to ask how to handle it.
The city's hazardous waste page lists paint and paint cans among the hazardous materials it won't collect. It points you to the Ellis County site.
No. The city says it won't pick up hazardous waste during Fall Cleanup. Take paint to the Ellis County site instead.
Ellis County runs a 14-county regional program, but the no-fee rule is stated only for Ellis County individuals. Call 785-628-9449 first.
October 16, 2026: read Ellis County's Household Hazardous Waste page, its Acceptable & Unacceptable Items list, the Municipal / Solid Waste page (hours, holidays, secured-load fee), the landfill's household hazardous waste and unaccepted materials pages and FAQ; the City of Hays Solid Waste Division, Hazardous Waste and Annual Fall Cleanup pages; and PaintCare's locator data (record 15628; Kansas has no PaintCare program). KDHE's pages returned errors. Unresolved: how latex should be handled (not on the county list; the city won't collect paint cans; no local page on dried latex); the per-visit weight limit (55 vs 50 pounds); hazardous waste drop-off hours versus landfill hours (PaintCare shows Saturday 9-4); the full list of 14 counties (PaintCare names 12) and whether out-of-county residents pay; how long the Fall Cleanup sweep lasts (the city gives only the October 19 start). A Salina listing from PaintCare's locator was removed on October 17 because it was the only source and didn't name Ellis County. Independent fact-check on October 17, 2026 re-read every source; see research/batch18-ks-mo-peer-review.md.
Checked October 16, 2026 against these sources, not by phone. How we research.
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