Painting and Paint Recycling

Outdoor painting & pollution prevention

Image of used paint cans outside by a garage. — Recycle paint for FREE at local paint stores. Find a location at PaintCare.com.

Spills and drips from using paints, solvents, thinners, and varnishes outside contain pollutants that are harmful to people, fish, and wildlife and can end up in our local streams and lakes.

Other activities associated with painting such as pressure washing, dry stripping/scraping and sand blasting can create paint debris that will pollute the area around your home and beyond when it rains.

Here’s how to stay safe when you paint, prepare to paint, and clean up outside:

Drop Cloths & Tarps: Cover the ground and all areas with drop cloths or tarps to catch paint chips, drips and spills. Protect your landscaping, plants, pets and our local streams and lakes from toxins by preventing paint pollution around your home. Dispose of paint chips in the garbage.

Rinse Inside: Yes, your latex brushes, rollers and sprayers should be washed off indoors in a utility sink or any indoor drain so the dirty paint water goes into the sewer system for filtration and treatment. Remove as much paint as possible before rinsing. If rinsed outside the paint ends up washed into our local streams and lakes. Paint tools with oil-based paint require solvent to clean. We recommend avoiding oil-based paint.

Dry Spill Cleanup Method: Soak it up. Always use a dry cleanup method for spilled materials. Never rinse an outdoor spill with water or use other cleaning chemicals because the spill will spread and end up in a storm drain. Soak up a spill with absorbent materials like paper towels, sawdust, cat litter or scrap cloth. Let the materials dry or sweep it up and trash it along with anything else used. Have a basic dry spill cleanup kit with you outside before you start painting.

Paint recycling and disposal

You’ve painted, now what do you do with the leftover paint? Liquid paint is considered Hazardous Waste and cannot go into your garbage. This is against the law. Here’s what you can do with paint:

Image of used cans of paint in a large clear tub with a recycle sticker on it. — You can recycle opened paint in original cans at local paint stores. Check PaintCare.org for locations. Latex, primer, varnish, stains and clear coats are accepted. Oil-based paint must be taken to hazardous waste.

Recycle Paint for FREE: Local paint stores accept open latex paint, varnishes, primers, stains and clear coats in their original cans with labels. Go to PaintCare.org to find a location near you. Over 4.6 million gallons of paint have been collected and recycled through the PaintCare.org program in Washington state as of 2026.
Factoria Transfer Station Hazardous Waste: Drop off for FREE: All types of latex and oil-based paint, varnishes, primers and stains are accepted. Check Factoria Transfer Station hours.
Dry It Out: If your paint can has an inch or less or paint left, you can dry it out and dispose of it in your garbage. Dry it by adding an absorbent material like paper scraps, sawdust, or cat litter. Leave it outside to dry completely, which may take days, before putting it in the trash.
Store it: Paint can last for years if stored out of the heat and cold with a tight lid. Save money and keep it for future touch-ups or other projects. Label it clearly: color name and number, room/wall painted and date.
Donate or Give it Away: Friends, neighbors, theater productions or other groups may need paint.

Paint smarter

Planning your project will save you money and reduce waste.

Image of paint color samples in a paint store. — Choosing a color can be the hardest part of painting. Be sure to view the color in different types of light or purchase a sample and test it on your wall. Being certain with your color will save you money and reduce paint waste.

Choose Latex Paint: Latex paint can be stored for future touch-ups and can also be recycled (for free!) keeping it out of hazardous waste landfills. Avoid oil-based paint because it has limited use, is the most toxic to you and the environment, and cannot be recycled. Visit PaintCare.org for planning and storage tips or to find a paint recycling location near you.
Primer: Use a primer on new drywall, bare wood or when making a color change. Primer costs less than a mixed paint, provides adhesion and will reduce the amount of new paint needed.
Color Test: Look at samples in outdoor and indoor light at different times of day. Buy a small sample size and paint a test section if you are unsure. Color mistakes are expensive and create wasted paint.
Measure First: get the square footage you plan to paint.
Surface: Textured surfaces require more paint.
Buy Only What You Need: Read the coverage on paint cans or ask for a recommendation when you buy the paint.

What does the law say?

Bellevue Municipal Code 24.06.125 protects water quality for all of us with rules about keeping all types of pollution out of our storm drains and stormwater system including: paints, stains, resins, lacquers, or varnishes.

Property owners, businesses, and/or responsible parties of code violations may be subject to enforcement and penalties per Bellevue Municipal Code 24.06.130.

What does this law mean?

This means paint, paint wash water and paint chips from pressure washing or scraping, or stains, varnishes, etc., are not allowed on the ground or in Bellevue’s streets where they might wash down into the storm drains. This also means it is against the law to allow this type of pollution to leave your property where it may enter storm drains or the stormwater system.

In addition, you may be fined if you are polluting with paint or anything else.

Make a DYI Dry Spill Cleanup Kit

With a few disposable household items in one place most outdoor and indoor spills and household breaks are easy and fast to clean up. Never rinse an outdoor spill with water or use other cleaning chemicals because the spill will spread and end up in a storm drain.

Here’s what you need to make your own Dry Spill Cleanup Kit:

Container: bucket or box to hold the supplies, which will later hold the trash from the spill
Plastic Garbage Bag: line the bucket or container
Gloves: disposable & waterproof like latex gloves or dishwashing gloves
Absorbent Materials: such as paper towels, bag of sawdust, shredded paper, cat litter or scraps of cloth to soak up a liquid spill
Cardboard: hand size pieces of cardboard to use as a dustpan or scoop – good for glass or for moving liquid

Place everything into a lined container. Keep a kit under the sink for indoor kitchen accidents and another outside with paint or chemicals for use during projects. If a spill occurs, you'll have everything you need to safely absorb it, scoop it up and get it into the trash quickly. Never use water or liquid to clean up a spill outside because that only spreads it.

Report 24-hour emergencies and utilities maintenance

To report flooding, water main breaks, sewer overflows and pollutant spills, call our 24/7 hotline at 425-452-7840, or fill out the My Bellevue Customer Assistance Form on our webpage with the details. You can also download My Bellevue App to make a report and send us photos right from your phone.