Everything you need to get rid of leftover paint responsibly in Cincinnati.
11083 Kenwood Rd, Blue Ash, OH 45242
This is a donation program, not disposal. Dried-out, frozen, nearly empty or unlabeled cans will be turned away. Donations go to 11083 Kenwood Rd; 11060 Kenwood Rd is the mailing address.
4600 Spring Grove Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45232
This is a private hazardous waste company, not a county drop-off, so call before you drive over. The county lists 4600 Spring Grove Ave; EEI’s own contact page lists its plant at 4650 Spring Grove Ave with the same phone number.
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.
4600 Spring Grove Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45232
11060 Kenwood Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45242
7950 Freedom Way, Florence, KY 41042
7950 Freedom Way, Florence, KY 41042
10700 Prospect Ln, Aurora, IN 47001
From PaintCare’s drop-off map ↗, updated October 6, 2026. Hours and limits are PaintCare’s. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
If there’s at least a third of a gallon in each and it’s never frozen, take it to Matthew 25 in Blue Ash so it gets used again. If not, dry it with kitty litter and put it in your cart with the lid off.
Call EEI at 513-541-1823 for hours and price, then drop it at Spring Grove Avenue. Or keep it sealed in a safe spot and sign up for Hamilton County’s email list so you hear about the next free day.
Don’t pour it out. Latex can be dried or donated now. For oil-based products, your options are EEI for a fee or waiting for the next yearly event, which the county hasn’t dated yet.
The county sets no hard limit but asks you to email resource.hotline@hamiltoncountyohio.gov ahead of time if you have more than 15 gallons or 75 pounds.
Dry latex paint with the lid off and put it in your Cincinnati garbage cart, or donate usable latex to Matthew 25: Ministries at 11083 Kenwood Rd in Blue Ash. Oil-based paint has no free option until the county’s next yearly event (the 2026 one was October 2 and is over). Until then, EEI on Spring Grove Avenue takes it for a fee.
Hamilton County has no year-round free drop-off for paint. The county’s one free collection day for 2026 was October 2 and is over. Most Cincinnati homes should dry latex for the garbage cart, donate good latex to Matthew 25: Ministries in Blue Ash, and pay a private company on Spring Grove Avenue to take oil-based paint.
The City of Cincinnati lets you put paint cans in the garbage cart if the lid is off and the paint is dried out. Liquid paint is banned from both regular and bulk pickup. The county suggests sand, sawdust, kitty litter or paint hardener to speed drying.
Matthew 25: Ministries’ Rainbow Paint program takes usable latex in 1- or 5-gallon cans that are at least one-third full and still have the label. Drop off at 11083 Kenwood Rd, weekdays 9–4 or Saturday 9–3. It’s closed November 24–28 for Thanksgiving.
Hamilton County ReSource held its once-a-year collection on Friday, October 2, 2026, in the Norwood area, by registration only. It took oil-based paint and stain but not latex. That date has passed, and the county says set-up costs keep it to one event a year. Sign up for its email list to hear about the next one.
Between events, the county’s locator sends oil-based paint to Environmental Enterprises, Inc. at 4600 Spring Grove Ave (513-541-1823). PaintCare’s listing shows $40 per 100 pounds, card or check only. Call first for hours.
Hamilton County ReSource tells residents to check whether their city, village or township hosts its own hazardous products day. This guide didn’t find one for the City of Cincinnati.
Ohio has no PaintCare program, so stores don’t take paint back for free. Email Hamilton County ReSource at resource.hotline@hamiltoncountyohio.gov or call 513-946-7777 if you can’t find an option. Don’t bring paint to the county office at 1701 Patricia McCollum Way; it isn’t a drop-off.
Sort first: usable latex for Matthew 25, hard-to-use latex for drying, and oil-based paint, stain and thinner for EEI or the next county event. Keep labels on. Don’t let latex freeze in the garage if you plan to donate it.
Full preparation checklist →Only dried paint. The city takes paint cans in the cart if the lid is off and the paint is dried out. Liquid paint is not allowed.
The 2026 event was October 2 and has passed. The county holds one a year and announces it by email and on its hazardous products page.
No. Latex was on the not-accepted list. It took oil-based paint, oil-based stain, lead paint, solvents and thinners.
Matthew 25: Ministries in Blue Ash reblends it. It must be latex in a 1- or 5-gallon can, at least one-third full, labeled, stirrable and never frozen.
PaintCare’s listing says $40 per 100 pounds, paid by card or check. Hamilton County says to confirm fees and hours with EEI before you go.
October 7, 2026: read the City of Cincinnati garbage guidelines; Hamilton County ReSource’s hazardous products page and FAQ; the county’s Recycling & Disposal Locator entries for latex and oil-based paint (Recollect data behind the locator); Matthew 25’s paint guidelines and contact pages; and EEI’s contact page. The October 2, 2026 county event has passed. EEI’s hours and fees come only from PaintCare’s listing; EEI’s own site doesn’t publish a household drop-off service, so this is flagged. The county and EEI give different street numbers (4600 vs 4650 Spring Grove Ave). A 2019 WKRC piece mentioned a ReUse Center taking latex for $1 a gallon; no current source found, so it is left out. No city-run event found.
Checked October 7, 2026 against these sources, not by phone. How we research.
