Paint recycling
in Louisiana.
Paint disposal in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Louisiana has no paint recycling program, so you use your city or parish’s hazardous waste collection day. In these three cities, that day comes once or twice a year at most.
Check your local rules.
Louisiana has no PaintCare program and no free store take-back. Louisiana DEQ’s recycling list sends you to your city or parish, and the rules differ a lot. Oil-based paint, stain and thinner should wait for a collection day; don’t pour them out or put them in the trash. Latex is easier: Baton Rouge says dried latex can go in your garbage cart with the lid off, and New Orleans’ Green Project takes usable latex Thursday to Saturday. Collection days are usually for households in that city or parish only, with ID, and businesses are turned away. If your paint is still good, give it away or donate it.
No free state program.
Louisiana 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.
3 cities
Baton Rouge ↗
In Baton Rouge, latex and oil-based paint are handled differently. The city-parish says dried latex can go in your garbage cart, and good latex can go to a Habitat ReStore any week. Oil-based paint goes to the twice-a-year collection day for East Baton Rouge Parish residents. The next one is Saturday, November 21, 2026, at LSU.
Checked October 12, 2026LouisianaLafayette ↗
This guide is for Lafayette, Louisiana, in Lafayette Parish. Right now there is no place to drop off paint year-round. Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) holds a Household Hazardous Waste Day for city and unincorporated parish residents. The last one was November 22, 2025, and no new date has been set. A new convenience center on Dugas Road is being built but isn’t open.
Checked October 12, 2026LouisianaNew Orleans ↗
New Orleans has no year-round hazardous waste drop-off. Good latex paint can go to The Green Project in the Marigny-Bywater area, which turns it into recycled paint. Oil-based paint has to wait for the city’s once-a-year collection day for Orleans Parish residents. The 2026 day was April 11 and is over.
Checked October 12, 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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