Leftover paint from a job in NYC: where a contractor can take it (2026)

Paint, stains, primers and varnish (latex and oil-based)

New York City · checked on November 6, 2026

The rules for a business

The rules for a business:

PaintCare drop-off sites in NYC are open to businesses as well as residents; DSNY itself names businesses.
Paint must be in its original container with the label, lid tight.
Most PaintCare sites take at least 5 gallons per visit from a business; some take more.
“Drop-off sites may set their own limit on the amount of paint they accept, as long as the limit is no less than five gallons per participant per day” — New York Paint Stewardship Program Plan (Aug 4, 2026) — PaintCare (PDF)
Painting contractors are usually 'Very Small Quantity Generators' (VSQGs). VSQGs can drop off any amount of latex paint, up to each site's limit.
Oil-based paint: a VSQG can drop it off within the legal generator limits.
PaintCare's VSQG test: generate no more than about 25 gallons of hazardous waste a month and store no more than about 250 gallons.
Large Volume Pickup (free): 50 gallons or more inside the five boroughs (100 gallons elsewhere in NY), counted by container size, not by how much paint is left inside.
In New York, a business that is NOT an exempt generator can still use the pickup service for hazardous paint products (contact PaintCare).
The five DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off sites take paint (up to five gallons a visit) — but from NYC residents only.
It does not say a contractor's dried paint can go out with residential trash.

Not for contractors: household-only routes, never a place to take a job's waste.

“NOTE: These events are for NYC residents ONLY. NO businesses or commercial vehicles.” — Special Waste Drop-Off — DSNY. The places: DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off — Bronx, Hunts Point; DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off — Brooklyn, Greenpoint; DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off — Manhattan, Lower East Side/Two Bridges; DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off — Queens, College Point; DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off — Staten Island, Fresh Kills
DSNY SAFE Disposal Events: residents only, no businesses or commercial vehicles. “NOTE: These events are for NYC residents ONLY. NO businesses or commercial vehicles.” — SAFE Disposal Events — DSNY. The place: DSNY SAFE Disposal Events (five boroughs, yearly)
“Households Only (No Businesses) in Richmond” — PaintCare drop-off site data (feeds the site locator) — PaintCare. The place: Green Sheen NYS D2D Service

Find a place:

PaintCare drop-off site locator — Sites in New York are open to households and businesses.
PaintCare Large Volume Pickup (LVP)

Not settled by the official pages:

Whether a store takes oil-based paint from a particular contractor depends on that contractor's generator status, which PaintCare leaves the business to work out.
No official city page says how a contractor should get rid of dried-out latex paint or empty cans from a job: the Sanitation Department's trash and recycling advice is written for residents.
Spray paint: PaintCare's site records list aerosols among what its sites do not accept.
The pickup minimum: PaintCare's program plan, quoted here, says 50 gallons in the five boroughs, but DSNY's and PaintCare's own pickup pages were read giving 100 gallons. Ask PaintCare which applies.

The official words on it (23 quotes)

“They offer drop-off sites throughout the city where residents, businesses, agencies, and nonprofits can take leftover paint for recycling.” — Harmful Household Products — DSNY, no date on the page
“Items should be in original containers with original manufacturer labels, lids tightly secured.” — Harmful Household Products — DSNY, no date on the page
“All PaintCare sites accept up to 5 gallons per visit, and some take more.” — PaintCare is Good for Business — PaintCare, no date on the page
“Drop-off sites may set their own limit on the amount of paint they accept, as long as the limit is no less than five gallons per participant per day” — New York Paint Stewardship Program Plan (Aug 4, 2026) — PaintCare (PDF), no date on the page
“Painting contractors, small businesses, and other small- to medium-sized organizations are typical VSQGs” — New York Paint Stewardship Program Plan (Aug 4, 2026) — PaintCare (PDF), no date on the page
“PaintCare does not allow drop-off sites to accept oil- based paint from SQGs and LQGs” — New York Paint Stewardship Program Plan (Aug 4, 2026) — PaintCare (PDF), no date on the page
“generates no more than 100 kilograms (about 25 gallons or 220 pounds) of hazardous waste per calendar month, and (b) accumulates no more than 1,000 kilograms (about 250 gallons or 2,200 pounds) of hazardous waste at any given time” — Business Limits for Hazardous Program Products — PaintCare, no date on the page
“currently 50 gallons within the five boroughs of New York City and 100 gallons elsewhere (measured by container volume and not liquid paint volume)” — New York Paint Stewardship Program Plan (Aug 4, 2026) — PaintCare (PDF), no date on the page
“in New York, non-exempt generators may use the pickup service for program products that are hazardous waste” — Business Limits for Hazardous Program Products — PaintCare, no date on the page
“Paint (up to five gallons per visit)” — Special Waste Drop-Off — DSNY, no date on the page
“For small amounts of paint, l et dry, or use kitty litter, newspaper, or other absorbent material to soak up paint and place in trash.” — Harmful Household Products — DSNY, no date on the page
“NOTE: These events are for NYC residents ONLY. NO businesses or commercial vehicles.” — Special Waste Drop-Off — DSNY, no date on the page
“NOTE: These events are for NYC residents ONLY. NO businesses or commercial vehicles.” — SAFE Disposal Events — DSNY, no date on the page
“Households Only (No Businesses) in Richmond” — PaintCare drop-off site data (feeds the site locator) — PaintCare, no date on the page
“These sites are available to households, businesses, government agencies, and others with leftover paint.” — New York paint recycling and drop-off locations — PaintCare, no date on the page
“Painting contractors, property managers, and other businesses with large amounts of leftover architectural paint can request an appointment for free pickup.” — Harmful Household Products — DSNY, no date on the page

Places that take it from a business (67)

Call ahead before you go: what each place takes, from whom and when can change.

Bronx (6)

For every place below: from a business: Yes · source: PaintCare drop-off site data (feeds the site locator) — PaintCare · checked on: November 6, 2026 · call ahead.

Note 1, where a place says so: hours: Paint is accepted during regular business hours. Call ahead for hours and to make sure the store can accept the amount and type of paint you would like to recycle.

Best Value NY — 4095 Park Ave · 4095 Park Ave, Bronx, NY 10457 · (718) 731-7800 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1 · “Households and Businesses”
F and F Supply — 1260 Oak Point Ave · 1260 Oak Point Ave, Bronx, NY 10474 · (718) 542-7322 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Loconsolo of Morris Park — 1057 Morris Park Ave · 1057 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY 10461 · (718) 747-8699 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1 · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 2333 Cross Bronx Expy · 2333 Cross Bronx Expy, Bronx, NY 10462 · (718) 829-6500 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1 · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 500 Baychester Ave · 500 Baychester Ave, Bronx, NY 10475 · (718) 684-3965 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1 · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 5740 Broadway · 5740 Broadway, Bronx, NY 10463 · (718) 543-0836 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1 · “Households and Businesses in New York”

Brooklyn (24)

For every place below: source: PaintCare drop-off site data (feeds the site locator) — PaintCare · checked on: November 6, 2026 · call ahead.

Atlas Paints Plus — 7722 3rd Ave · 7722 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209 · (718) 748-1112 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
B and G Hardware — 210 Roebling St · 210 Roebling St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 · (718) 388-4214 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Big Reuse — 1 12th St · 1 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215 · (718) 725-8925 · from a business: Depends (“Households and VSQG Businesses in New York”) · Households and VSQG Businesses in New York — only businesses that are Very Small Quantity Generators of hazardous waste (PaintCare's NY plan says painting contractors are typically VSQGs). · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · hours: Monday-Sunday 10 am-6 pm
Certified Boro Park Lumber — 4601 New Utrecht Ave · 4601 New Utrecht Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11219 · (718) 853-3100 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Certified Lumber and Home Center — 148 Classon Ave · 148 Classon Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205 · (718) 387-1233 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Clinton Hill Hardware Inc — 452 Myrtle Ave · 452 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205 · (718) 237-7827 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Corner Hardware — 2266 Nostrand Ave · 2266 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210 · (718) 927-4300 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
DIY Supplies Color Center — 8230 18th Ave · 8230 18th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11214 · (718) 331-3360 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses”) · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
DIY Supplies Color Factory — 7419 13th Ave · 7419 13th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11228 · (718) 333-5940 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Global Paint — 1208 Neptune Ave · 1208 Neptune Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224 · (718) 676-5906 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
K and S Building Supply — 901 65th St · 901 65th St, Brooklyn, NY 11219 · (718) 833-6388 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Loconsolo Paints — 2660 Coney Island Ave · 2660 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11223 · (718) 332-1111 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Mazzone Ace Hardware — 470 Court St · 470 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 · (718) 624-8494 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Mazzone Ace Hardware — 476 Bergen St · 476 Bergen St, Brooklyn, NY 11217 · (718) 783-3333 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Mazzone Paint Center — 211 Smith St · 211 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 · (347) 799-1140 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Park Slope Hardware — 593 5th Ave · 593 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 · (718) 788-6683 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses”) · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Sherwin-Williams — 1748 86th St · 1748 86th St, Brooklyn, NY 11214 · (718) 331-3297 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Sherwin-Williams — 3760 Nostrand Ave · 3760 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235 · (718) 934-0909 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Sherwin-Williams — 4606 3rd Ave · 4606 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220 · (718) 222-8277 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Sherwin-Williams — 555 5th Ave · 555 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 · (718) 369-0819 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Sherwin-Williams — 60 Broadway · 60 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11249 · (718) 387-4201 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Stillwell Ready Mix and Building Materials — 2543 Stillwell Ave · 2543 Stillwell Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11214 · (718) 373-3364 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
WR Paint Supply — 720 Manhattan Ave · 720 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222 · (718) 349-0141 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses in New York”) · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · hours: see note 1
Zee Hardware — 259 Schenectady Ave · 259 Schenectady Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213 · (347) 221-0569 · from a business: Yes (“Households and Businesses”) · Limit: 5 gallons per visit · hours: see note 1

Manhattan (11)

For every place below: from a business: Yes · hours: Paint is accepted during regular business hours. Call ahead for hours and to make sure the store can accept the amount and type of paint you would like to recycle. · source: PaintCare drop-off site data (feeds the site locator) — PaintCare · checked on: November 6, 2026 · call ahead.

Epsteins Paint Center — 562 W 52nd St · 562 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019 · (212) 265-3960 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
J and M Hardware — 19 E 21st St · 19 E 21st St, New York, NY 10010 · (212) 673-6050 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
New York Floor and Paint Supplies — 1473 5th Ave · 1473 5th Ave, New York, NY 10035 · (212) 369-7200 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Nunez Depot — 4147 Broadway · 4147 Broadway, New York, NY 10033 · (212) 927-8518 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Rainbow Ace Hardware — 1449 1st Ave · 1449 1st Ave, New York, NY 10021 · (212) 517-7500 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit · “Households and Businesses”
Sherwin-Williams — 125 W 21st St · 125 W 21st St, New York, NY 10011 · (212) 414-5983 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 150 Varick St · 150 Varick St, New York, NY 10013 · (646) 230-8291 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 155 E 55th St · 155 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022 · (212) 317-5965 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 600 Amsterdam Ave · 600 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024 · (212) 877-0258 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 619 W 46th St · 619 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036 · (212) 489-7457 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sugar Hill Hardware — 529 W 145th St · 529 W 145th St, New York, NY 10031 · (212) 926-0525 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”

Queens (23)

Best Paint-Benjamin Moore — 220-23 Jamaica Ave · 220-23 Jamaica Ave, Queens Village, NY 11428 · (718) 464-1200 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Brite Hardware Locksmith Building Supply — 112-15 Jamaica Ave · 112-15 Jamaica Ave, Richmond Hill, NY 11418 · (718) 849-8121 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Colorall Home Fashions — 161-24 Northern Blvd · 161-24 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11358 · (718) 463-6900 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Colorall Paint II — 252-02 Northern Blvd · 252-02 Northern Blvd, Little Neck, NY 11362 · (718) 224-2285 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses”
Flushing Paint — 133-43 35th Ave · 133-43 35th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354 · (718) 445-8140 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses”
General Paint Color Corp — 89-01 Jamaica Ave · 89-01 Jamaica Ave, Woodhaven, NY 11421 · (718) 847-3070 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Harrys Paint and Hardware True Value — 8203 Eliot Ave · 8203 Eliot Ave, Middle Village, NY 11379 · (718) 458-5917 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses”
Jamaica Hardware and Paints — 13101 Jamaica Ave · 13101 Jamaica Ave, Richmond Hill, NY 11418 · (718) 880-1258 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Liberty Paint and Deco — 185-26 Union Tpke · 185-26 Union Tpke, Queens, NY 11366 · (718) 454-1123 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Loconsolo of Forest Hills — 10310 Metropolitan Ave · 10310 Metropolitan Ave, Forest Hills, NY 11375 · (718) 263-7880 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Loconsolo of Steinway — 2831 Steinway St · 2831 Steinway St, Astoria, NY 11103 · (718) 721-0777 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Long Island City Paint Store - PPG — 51-02 27th St · 51-02 27th St, Long Island City, NY 11101 · (718) 361-2916 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Mazzone Ace Hardware — 245-251 Beach 116 St · 245-251 Beach 116 St, Rockaway Park, NY 11694 · (718) 945-5669 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
NY Paint and Home Center #1 — 204-03 Hillside Ave · 204-03 Hillside Ave, Hollis, NY 11423 · (718) 468-0666 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses”
Platz Hardware True Value — 65-25 Forest Ave · 65-25 Forest Ave, Ridgewood, NY 11385 · (718) 821-5850 · Limit: 5 gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses”
Sherwin-Williams — 107-20 Atlantic Ave · 107-20 Atlantic Ave, Ozone Park, NY 11416 · (718) 441-7135 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 1942 37th St · 1942 37th St, Astoria, NY 11105 · (718) 274-2412 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 2519 Parsons Blvd · 2519 Parsons Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354 · (718) 939-3460 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 4739 Bell Blvd · 4739 Bell Blvd, Bayside, NY 11361 · (718) 224-2971 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 6216 34th Ave · 6216 34th Ave, Woodside, NY 11377 · (718) 426-8813 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 6860 Austin St · 6860 Austin St, Forest Hills, NY 11375 · (718) 275-0161 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 7567 31St Ave · 7567 31St Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11370 · (718) 396-4160 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Whitestone Hardware — 1248 150th St · 1248 150th St, Whitestone, NY 11357 · (718) 767-9546 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”

Staten Island (3)

Sherwin-Williams — 1440 Forest Ave · 1440 Forest Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302 · (718) 442-6220 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 1462 Hylan Blvd · 1462 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10305 · (718) 668-2682 · Limit: 10 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”
Sherwin-Williams — 240 Page Ave · 240 Page Ave, Staten Island, NY 10307 · (718) 984-2605 · Limit: 5 Gallons per visit. · “Households and Businesses in New York”

Confirm with each place before you go: call ahead.

Sources

Every page quoted (9 pages)

Harmful Household Products — DSNY — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026
PaintCare is Good for Business — PaintCare — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026
New York Paint Stewardship Program Plan (Aug 4, 2026) — PaintCare (PDF) — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026
Business Limits for Hazardous Program Products — PaintCare — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026
Special Waste Drop-Off — DSNY — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026
SAFE Disposal Events — DSNY — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026
PaintCare drop-off site data (feeds the site locator) — PaintCare — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026
New York paint recycling and drop-off locations — PaintCare — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026
PaintCare drop-off site data (feeds the site locator) — PaintCare — no date on the page; checked on November 6, 2026

Where our data comes from

This is a plain-words summary of official city and state pages as of November 6, 2026, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and have exceptions: confirm with the departments named on this card before you start or bill.

Leftover paint: where a contractor can take it in New York City

The rules and the places

Paint, stains, primers and varnish (latex and oil-based)

The rules for a business

Places that take it from a business (67)

Sources

Jobs that leave it