Everything you need to get rid of leftover paint responsibly in Raleigh.
9037 Deponie Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
Not open weekdays while the rebuild is pending. In October 2025 the county said full six-day service was expected later in 2026, but the page still showed Saturday-only on October 7, 2026.
6150 Old Smithfield Road, Apex, NC 27539
Stay in your vehicle and follow the signs. Secure cans so they do not tip. This is the only Wake site open on weekdays right now.
5051 Wendell Boulevard, Wendell, NC 27591
The only Wake site open on Sundays. Weekends only, so plan around it.
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.
6150 Old Smithfield Rd, Apex, NC 27539
5051 Wendell Blvd, Wendell, NC 27591
2115 E Club Blvd, Durham, NC 27704
1518 Eubanks Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
4185 Hwy 15, Oxford, NC 27565
From PaintCare’s drop-off map ↗, updated October 6, 2026. Hours and limits are PaintCare’s. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
East Wake, 5051 Wendell Boulevard, is the only Wake site open Sundays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wake County says to dry latex with kitty litter and put it in the trash; Raleigh says kitty litter or sand. That’s easier than a trip for a small amount.
North Wake at 9037 Deponie Drive collects every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., under its temporary setup.
Wake County takes household waste only, from Wake residents. Paint left by tenants in a rental business may count as business waste. Wake also turns away vehicles with company markings, ladders or tool boxes. Call 919-856-7400 before you load up.
On a weekday, take paint to Wake County’s South Wake hazardous waste site, 6150 Old Smithfield Road in Apex, Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. North Wake on Deponie Drive in Raleigh is Saturday-only since a 2025 fire. Bring proof you live in Wake County; latex is capped at 10 gallons.
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.
A fire in January 2025 damaged the North Wake building at 9037 Deponie Drive. The county runs a Saturday collection there, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In October 2025 it said six-day service should come back later in 2026, but the page still said Saturday-only on October 7, 2026.
South Wake, 6150 Old Smithfield Road in Apex, is open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. East Wake in Wendell is open Saturday and Sunday only. All three are for Wake County residents only.
Each site lists a 10-gallon limit on latex paint; the county doesn’t say if that is per visit. If you have more than 10 gallons spread across many cans, the county asks you to pour them together. Oil-based paint, stain, varnish and spray paint are also taken.
Wake’s multi-material recycling sites at 9029 Deponie Drive, 6130 Old Smithfield Road in Apex and in Wendell take motor oil, antifreeze and electronics, but paint isn’t on their list. Head to the hazardous waste side instead.
For small amounts of latex, Wake County says to dry it with kitty litter and put it in the trash. The City of Raleigh says kitty litter or sand, then let it dry solid. Never pour paint into a storm drain, yard or street. North Carolina has no PaintCare program, so paint stores here don’t take old paint back.
Be ready to show proof you live in Wake County. Secure cans so they don’t tip or leak, and stay in your vehicle the whole time. Box trucks, enclosed or dual-axle trailers, and vehicles with company markings, ladders or tool boxes are turned away. Throw rusted or dried-out cans in the trash instead of bringing them.
Full preparation checklist →Not right now. Since the 2025 fire it collects on Saturdays only, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. South Wake in Apex is open Monday to Saturday.
Yes, once it’s dried solid. Raleigh says to add kitty litter or sand (Wake County names kitty litter), let it harden completely, then throw it away. Wet paint can’t go in the trash.
Ten gallons. Wake County asks you to pour cans together if you have more than 10 gallons.
Wake’s sites are for Wake County residents and ask for proof. If your home is in Durham County, use the City of Durham’s center on East Club Boulevard.
No. Wake County says it can’t take waste from commercial, industrial or institutional sources.
October 7, 2026 check: read Wake County’s hazardous waste page and the North, South and East Wake pages (addresses, hours, 10-gallon latex limit, proof of residency, vehicle rules, holiday closures), two county news releases on the North Wake fire (May 29 and October 9, 2025), the multi-material recycling page and Raleigh’s paint page. Two leads were not confirmed: a free paint reuse shelf at Wake sites (no county page mentions one) and a reopening date for full North Wake service. No fee is listed. The North Wake address is 9037 Deponie Drive on the hazardous waste page and 9029 on the recycling page; they sit side by side. PaintCare lists no North Carolina program.
Checked October 7, 2026 against these sources, not by phone. How we research.
