Drop it off free
5 free paint drop-off sites within 12 miles.
- Sherwin-WilliamsPaint store1.4 mi
- HirshfieldsPaint store1.5 mi
- Olmsted County HHW FacilityHazardous waste site2.6 mi
Rochester, MN Paint Disposal
Everything you need to get rid of leftover paint responsibly in Rochester.
NOW AVAILABLE IN ROCHESTER
Paint recycling pickup. Book online.
Book a pickup From $89 for up to 5 gallons · Online booking coming soon
All drop-off locations in and near Rochester6
Start with these
Olmsted County Hazardous Waste Facility
305 Energy Parkway NE, Rochester, MN 55906
- Accepts
- Household paints, stains, varnishes, solvents and spray cans. Ask staff about unusual products.
- Who can use it
- Households. Southeast Minnesota businesses and nonprofits must qualify for and apply to the separate very small business program. Ask about out-of-county rules.
- Hours
- Tuesday–Saturday, 8 am–4:30 pm. Closed on holidays.
- Load limits
- No household paint limit found; call about bulk loads. Business waste needs approval first.
- Fees
- Free for regular household hazardous waste. Special waste and business service may cost extra.
Office hours are not drop-off hours.
Directions ↗507-328-7070; Saturdays 507-328-7078
5 PaintCare drop-off sites within 12 miles of Rochester.
4 paint stores and 1 hazardous waste site, 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 Minnesota
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
1.4 mi19 7th St NE, Rochester, MN 55906
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
Hirshfields
1.5 mi815 Broadway Ave N, Rochester, MN 55906
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
Olmsted County HHW Facility
2.6 mi305 Silver Creek Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906
- Who
- Households and VSQG Businesses in Dodge Goodhue Olmsted and Wabasha Counties
- Hours
- Tuesday - Saturday 8 am - 4:30pm (except for legal holidays)
- Limits
- Limit: 200 gallons per visit.
- 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.
Sherwin-Williams
2.8 mi1970 36th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901
- Limits
- Limit: 5 gallons per visit.
Sherwin-Williams
3.9 mi3790 40th Ave NW Ste 120, Rochester, MN 55901
- 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 Rochester cleanout?3
You are combining paint with a general recycling trip
The Hazardous Waste Facility and Recycling Center Plus do different jobs. Put paint and chemicals in the back where staff can reach them. At unloading, turn off the engine and follow staff. A recycling visit or garbage bill doesn’t cover every chemical.
You could use leftover paint for another small project
The Reuse Center gives away products, including paint and wood finishes, first come, first served. Colors and amounts vary, so don’t plan a matching room around it. Visits and items are limited; check the posted rules.
You are clearing a small business or nonprofit
Olmsted’s very small business (VSQG) program needs an application and approval before a scheduled drop-off. List your waste and get a quote; business fees differ from free household service. Ask about the business reuse waiver during screening; don’t put products on public reuse shelves.
Rochester rules and tips3
THE LOCAL ANSWER
Olmsted County’s Hazardous Waste Facility, 305 Energy Parkway NE, takes household paint and chemicals Tuesday–Saturday and has a free reuse area. Businesses and nonprofits need approval through a separate program.
Rochester residents can take leftover paint to the county hazardous waste site on Energy Parkway, Tuesday–Saturday. The office is open Monday; drop-off is not.
Pack so staff can unload
Bring closed, non-leaking containers within reach in the back of your vehicle. Drive into the unloading area and turn off the engine so staff can help.
Check the reuse shelves before buying paint
Usable products go to the Reuse Center. Stock changes and the limit is ten items, so don’t count on a matching color.
Same hours all winter, with holiday gaps
The site keeps Tuesday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. year-round. For 2026 it is closed November 11, November 26–27 and December 25, and open only 8 a.m.–noon on December 24.
Free pickup programs and other options
A PaintCare store may work for a few labeled cans. For an estate-sized load of 100 gallons or more, apply for free pickup: View program details ↗ .
Getting your paint ready
Keep paint apart from other cargo, with tight lids and labels showing. Get approval before bringing business waste.
Full preparation checklist →Rochester questions2
Is Monday a paint drop-off day?
No. Drop-off starts Tuesday.
Can a nonprofit bring paint as household waste?
No. Nonprofits and businesses go through the county’s separate approval program.
Sources and how we checked9
Call about bulk loads or waste from outside Olmsted County. Rechecked October 6, 2026: year-round hours and 2026 holidays. No winter cutback posted.
Checked October 6, 2026 against these sources, not by phone. How we research.
Olmsted County Hazardous Waste Facility ↗Olmsted County facility directory ↗Olmsted County long-term waste management plan ↗PaintCare Minnesota ↗PaintCare current drop-off locator ↗PaintCare free large-volume pickup ↗PaintCare pickup eligibility and preparation ↗Olmsted VSQG application and disposal process ↗Olmsted County 2026 solid waste holiday schedule ↗
