Paint recycling
in Missouri.
Paint disposal in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia. Missouri has no free paint recycling program, so you use your city or county’s hazardous waste site, and the rules differ a lot from place to place.
Check your local rules.
Missouri DNR says water-based (latex) paint isn’t hazardous once it’s solid. It prefers a collection site, but if you can’t get to one, mix in kitty litter, sand, shredded newspaper or paint hardener, let it dry with the lid off, and put it in the trash. Oil-based paint must go to a collection site or event. Kansas City’s KC Water site and Columbia’s Saturday collections take paint free for residents (Columbia lists both water-based and oil-based); St. Louis’s HHWSTL charges 50 cents a pound for latex; Springfield’s center takes only oil-based paint, by appointment. Most sites are for households only and ask for proof of address. Before you toss usable paint, DNR suggests giving it to a friend, neighbor, charity, school, church or theater group.
No free state program.
Missouri 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
Columbia ↗
Columbia, Missouri (Boone County), takes paint only on collection Saturdays at its hazardous waste site at 1313 Lakeview Ave., near the city power plant. Collections run the first and third Saturdays from April through October, 8 a.m. to noon. It’s free and takes both latex and oil-based paint, with limits. In season, the same site gives away free latex paint on Fridays.
Checked October 7, 2026MissouriKansas City ↗
Missouri has no paint recycling law, but Kansas City, Missouri, residents get a free option. KC Water runs a hazardous waste drop-off at 4707 Deramus Ave., open Thursday through Saturday, and it takes paint. The city is part of the MARC regional program, so you can also use the Lee’s Summit site early in the week. If you live across State Line in Kansas, these sites can’t take your paint.
Checked October 7, 2026MissouriSpringfield ↗
In Springfield, Missouri (Greene County), leftover oil-based paint goes to the city’s Household Chemical Collection Center on West Nichols Street, by appointment only. It’s free, but it does not take latex paint. Latex goes in your trash once it’s dried solid. The center also serves Christian, Polk, Dallas and Webster counties.
Checked October 7, 2026MissouriSt. Louis ↗
St. Louis City and St. Louis County share one hazardous waste program, HHWSTL, with two drive-through sites: South near the Lemay treatment plant and North in Florissant. You must book online. Oil-based paint counts as hazardous waste. Latex paint costs 50 cents a pound to recycle for everyone, so drying it and throwing it out is usually cheaper. Jefferson County residents can use the same sites.
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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