Home - Garden
The Right Way To Throw Away Old Paint
By SANDY BAKER
While latex or water-based paints can last as long as 10 years and oil-based cans can last as long as 15 years, you have some options if you simply want to get rid of extra paint. You can either donate them to a nonprofit home improvement company or throw them out properly using this method.
In most areas, throwing latex and water-based paints in the trash or pouring them down the drain is unacceptable; to get rid of them, start by letting the liquid dry thoroughly. You can add cat litter or paint-hardening products to the paint to speed up the drying process, and then leave the lid off and then throw it into the trash or follow your area's rules for disposal.
When disposing of oil-based paint, you should not leave it open to dry out because the fumes are too strong. Oil-based paint is more difficult to get rid of, so it is best to donate it to a nonprofit, call your refuse collectors to determine if a disposal method exists, or find ways to use the paint in your home.