Everything you need to get rid of leftover paint responsibly in Wilmington.
3002 US Highway 421 North, Wilmington, NC 28401
The City of Wilmington calls this the former WASTEC facility. It is, at the same address as the county’s Environmental Management office and recycling center. The county landfill is a different place farther up the road, at 5210 Highway 421 North. PaintCare’s listing adds two closing days the county page doesn’t show: the day before Thanksgiving and December 26.
Ogden Park, 615 Ogden Park Dr, Wilmington, NC 28411 (Monday stop; other stops below)
PaintCare’s listing for the Ogden Park stop says it doesn’t take latex paint, but the county’s own pages list latex paint for the HazWagon. If you are bringing a lot of latex, the 3002 Highway 421 North facility avoids the question.
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.
Municipal Ln, Wilmington, NC 28480
615 Ogden Park Dr, Wilmington, NC 28411
3002 US-421 N, Wilmington, NC 28401
117 Settlers Ln, Kure Beach, NC 28449
501 Dow Rd S, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
From PaintCare’s drop-off map ↗, updated October 6, 2026. Hours and limits are PaintCare’s. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Wait for the HazWagon. It is at the Wrightsville Beach Municipal Complex on Wednesdays, the north side of Mike Chappell Park on Clarendon Avenue in Carolina Beach on Fridays, and Kure Beach Town Hall on the first Saturday of the month, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
The HazWagon takes no more than 10 gallons of liquid at a time. Take a big load straight to 3002 Highway 421 North, which doesn’t post a paint limit.
Bring latex leftovers to the county; it takes latex from commercial painters. Oil-based paint from a business is refused, so you need a private hazardous waste company for that.
Paint isn’t on the landfill’s list. The landfill at 5210 Highway 421 North sends household hazardous waste to separate recycling areas or the county hazardous waste facility. Stop at 3002 Highway 421 North on the way.
Don’t bring it. The facility and HazWagon refuse solid paint, and the county says it can go in your trash.
Take paint to New Hanover County’s free Household Hazardous Waste facility at 3002 Highway 421 North, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–3 p.m. or Saturday 8 a.m.–noon, and bring ID. Near the beaches, the HazWagon takes up to 10 gallons of liquid per visit at weekly stops. It’s for New Hanover County residents only; contractors may bring latex paint but not oil-based.
In Wilmington, North Carolina, paint goes to New Hanover County’s free hazardous waste facility at 3002 Highway 421 North, open six days a week. The county’s HazWagon also stops at Ogden Park, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. Only New Hanover County residents can use either one.
The hazardous waste facility is at 3002 Highway 421 North, the old WASTEC site. The county landfill is a separate place at 5210 Highway 421 North. Go to 3002 for paint, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–3 p.m. or Saturday 8 a.m.–noon.
Each stop runs 10 a.m.–2 p.m.: Ogden Park on Mondays, the Wrightsville Beach Municipal Complex on Wednesdays, Mike Chappell Park in Carolina Beach on Fridays, and Kure Beach Town Hall on the first Saturday of the month. Bring no more than 10 gallons of liquid at a time.
The county says its permit doesn’t let it take waste from people outside New Hanover County. Staff check ID. If you live in Leland or anywhere across the river, use your own county’s program.
The county won’t take paint that has dried solid at the facility or the HazWagon. It says solidified paint can go in your trash.
The county’s Treasure Island Free Shop at 3002 Highway 421 North is open the second Saturday of each month, 9 a.m.–noon. Paint is one of the items that may be on the shelves, first come, first served, up to 15 items per household. You can’t drop paint off there: donations are taken only during open hours, and liquids are not accepted.
Use up small amounts or give good paint to someone who needs it. If you need paint, check the county’s Treasure Island Free Shop on the second Saturday of the month; it doesn’t take paint donations. Latex paint that has dried solid can go in the trash. North Carolina has no PaintCare program, so paint stores don’t take old paint back. Wilmington, Delaware is a different city with a different guide.
Keep paint in its original can with the lid tight. If you moved a chemical into another container, write what it is on the outside; the county asks for that. Have your ID ready. Keep each HazWagon trip to 10 gallons of liquid.
Full preparation checklist →Yes, for New Hanover County residents. Bring ID.
Yes, from households. It lists latex and oil-based paint, stains, varnishes, sealers and aerosols.
Only latex paint. The county says it can’t take oil-based paint from commercial painters.
No. Leland is in Brunswick County, and New Hanover County can’t take waste from out-of-county residents.
Yes. The county says paint that has dried solid can go in the trash, and it won’t take dried paint itself.
Sometimes. The county’s Treasure Island Free Shop at 3002 Highway 421 North gives away items, which may include paint, on the second Saturday of each month, 9 a.m.–noon. What’s there changes.
October 13, 2026: read New Hanover County’s Household Hazardous Waste and HazWagon pages (free, ID required, no out-of-county or business chemicals, latex-only for commercial painters, 10-gallon HazWagon limit, solid paint refused), its hours page, landfill page, Alternatives to Disposal page and Treasure Island Free Shop page (second Saturday 9 a.m.–noon, paint may be available, no liquid donations); the City of Wilmington page (sends residents to the county site, “the former WASTEC facility,” six days a week); NC DEQ’s permanent facility list (New Hanover listed); and PaintCare’s locator data. Conflict: PaintCare’s listing for the Ogden Park stop says latex paint isn’t taken, while the county lists latex for the HazWagon; we followed the county and told readers to use the main facility for large latex loads. Not found: a street number for the Wrightsville Beach stop on the county page or a gallon limit at the main facility. The Ogden Park, Municipal Lane, 501 Dow Road South and 117 Settlers Lane street addresses come from PaintCare, not the county. Peer review (October 13, 2026) added the Treasure Island Free Shop.
Checked October 13, 2026 against these sources, not by phone. How we research.
