Paint recycling
in Pennsylvania.
Paint drop-off in Philadelphia, Allentown and Harrisburg. Pennsylvania has no paint store take-back program, so your city or county decides what happens to old paint.
Check your local rules.
PA DEP says latex paint isn't hazardous: dry it with kitty litter or shredded newspaper and put it in the trash. Oil-based paint, stain and varnish should go to a household hazardous waste program if your county has one. Programs differ a lot: Philadelphia holds free one-day events open to five counties, Lehigh County has no event until fall 2027, and Dauphin County's pickup program has ended. If there's no program, DEP allows small amounts in the trash only after the liquid is soaked up, packed so it can't leak, and set out a little at a time.
No free state program.
Pennsylvania 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.
6 cities
Allentown ↗
Allentown has no place to drop off liquid paint right now. Lehigh County runs no permanent hazardous waste site, and its next collection event is planned for fall 2027. Dry out latex paint and set the cans at the curb on bulk night. Call the county hotline about oil-based paint.
Checked October 7, 2026PennsylvaniaErie ↗
Erie County has no year-round paint drop-off. It runs drive-thru hazardous waste and electronics days with Noble Environmental instead. The last two 2026 dates are October 17 in Summit Township and November 14 in Greene Township. You pay $0.50 a pound, and you must register first.
Checked October 7, 2026PennsylvaniaHarrisburg ↗
Harrisburg tells you to dry old paint with kitty litter, put it in the trash and recycle the empty can. Dauphin County's household hazardous waste pickup has ended, according to a township notice, and there is no county drop-off site for paint. Pennsylvania has no paint store take-back program either.
Checked October 7, 2026PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia ↗
Philadelphia takes all kinds of household paint at its household hazardous waste days. The last two 2026 events are Saturday, October 10, in Southwest Philadelphia and Saturday, November 7, in Port Richmond. Between events, the city's six sanitation convenience centers take latex paint only after you harden it. Pennsylvania has no paint store take-back program.
Checked October 7, 2026PennsylvaniaPittsburgh ↗
Pittsburgh changed its system in 2026. City residents now book paint drop-offs with Noble Environmental at 3001 Railroad Street and pay by the pound. The county-wide PRC collection days for 2026 are over. Latex you don’t want to pay for can be dried and thrown out.
Checked October 7, 2026PennsylvaniaState College ↗
In State College, most leftover paint ends up in the trash once it’s dried. The Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority (CCRRA) takes oil-based paint only at its spring hazardous waste event, next on April 23–24, 2027. It takes liquid latex at its Bellefonte transfer station for a fee.
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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