Paint recycling
in North Carolina.
Paint drop-off in Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and Asheville. North Carolina has no paint store take-back program, so your county decides where paint goes.
Check your local rules.
Take paint to your county’s household hazardous waste site or collection day. Rules differ a lot: Mecklenburg takes latex and oil paint six days a week, Wake caps latex at 10 gallons, Durham’s center lists only oil-based paint, and Buncombe charges $2 a gallon on set Tuesdays. Many counties say you can dry small amounts of latex with kitty litter and put it in the trash. Most sites take household paint only, not paint from businesses.
No free state program.
North Carolina 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
Asheville ↗
Asheville sends paint to Buncombe County’s landfill in Alexander, and only on set Tuesday collection days. The county charges $2 a gallon and caps it at 20 gallons a week. The county calendar lists November 3 and December 1, 2026.
Checked October 7, 2026North CarolinaCharlotte ↗
Charlotte doesn’t collect paint itself. Mecklenburg County takes both latex and oil-based paint at its four full-service drop-off centers, six days a week, up to 100 pounds from a household. North Carolina has no paint store take-back program.
Checked October 7, 2026North CarolinaDurham ↗
Durham takes oil-based paint free at its Household Hazardous Waste Center on East Club Boulevard, six days a week. Latex isn’t on the city’s list. Durham County’s guidance is to dry latex and put it in the trash.
Checked October 7, 2026North CarolinaRaleigh ↗
Wake County runs Raleigh’s paint drop-off. Its North Wake site on Deponie Drive was damaged by fire in 2025 and now opens Saturdays only. For weekdays, drive to South Wake in Apex. Latex is limited to 10 gallons, and the county also says you can dry latex and put it in the trash.
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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