Paint Recycling in Fort Collins, CO

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

• Transfer Station & Residential Convenience Centers (opens in new tab) · Larimer County
  • Larimer County says household hazardous wastes such as paint thinners must go to the county Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, not the transfer station. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Timberline Recycling Center (opens in new tab) · City of Fort Collins
  • Residents dropping off only the listed no-entry-fee materials (which include batteries and paint) pay no entry fee. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Paint must be in labeled, non-leaking containers; limit 30 gallons. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Accepted: oil-based paint and enamel, latex paint and other coverings (deck coating, varnish, floor paint, primer, sealer, stains). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Not accepted: aerosol or spray paint, art and craft paint, paint thinner, mineral spirits and solvents. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The Hard-to-Recycle Materials Yard charges a $5 entry fee plus extra fees for some materials. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • You do not have to live in Fort Collins to use the center. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Commercial customers may use both yards, but extra fees and drop-off limits apply for some items. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Larimer County: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab) · Larimer County
  • Typical household hazardous waste is accepted free from Larimer County residents. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The facility can only accept waste from Larimer County residents. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Waste from businesses, churches, landlords, governments, non-profits and other organizations is subject to approval through the business program. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The facility accepts paint, lawn chemicals, automotive fluids, batteries under 300 watt-hours and cleaners. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Limit 30 gallons per vehicle, measured by container size; containers over 5 gallons are not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Containers larger than 5-gallon capacity are not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Bring chemicals in non-leaking, labeled containers, ideally the originals. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Empty paint cans can go in the trash with lids removed. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PaintCare: Colorado (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
  • There is no charge for dropping off paint at a PaintCare drop-off site. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare drop-off sites in Colorado are available to households, businesses, government agencies and others with leftover paint. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare sites accept house paint, primers, stains, sealers and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PaintCare drop-off site locator data (sites.json) (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
  • Record 6138: limit 5 gallons per visit; accepts latex and oil-based house paint, stains and varnish in containers up to 5 gallons. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Record 6138: open to households and businesses in Colorado; paint accepted during regular business hours — call ahead. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Record 6138: no aerosols, unlabeled, leaking or empty containers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Record 6175: limit 5 gallons per visit; accepts latex and oil-based house paint, stains and varnish in containers up to 5 gallons. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Record 6175: open to households and businesses in Colorado; paint accepted during regular business hours — call ahead. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Record 6175: no aerosols, unlabeled, leaking or empty containers. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Goodwill of Colorado: Material Donations (donation guidelines) (opens in new tab) · Goodwill of Colorado
  • Goodwill cannot accept broken, stained or worn furniture or paint and other hazardous materials. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PaintCare: Colorado paint recycling and drop-off locations (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
  • In Colorado, there is no charge to drop off paint at a PaintCare drop-off site. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare's Colorado drop-off sites are open to households, businesses, government agencies and others with leftover paint. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • For a limited time, PaintCare offers a door-to-door pickup service in Colorado for households in certain counties with more than ten gallons of leftover paint, stain and varnish. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The door-to-door paint pickup covers El Paso, Teller, Arapahoe, Adams, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties; call (720) 854-8722 to see if you qualify. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • There is no charge for PaintCare's door-to-door household paint pickup; it is paid for by the PaintCare fee on new paint. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • For 100 gallons or more of unwanted paint, PaintCare offers a free large-volume pickup service. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare lists 225 year-round paint drop-off sites in Colorado. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The PaintCare fee, added to the price of new paint in Colorado, funds the program; it is not a tax or a deposit. Checked October 26, 2026.
• CDPHE: Paint frequently asked questions (opens in new tab) · Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
  • CDPHE says old or unused paint can be dropped off at a participating PaintCare location at no cost to the consumer. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PaintCare: Products We Accept (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
  • PaintCare sites accept house paint, primers, stains, sealers and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare sites do not accept aerosol coatings (spray paint), solvents, or products labeled for industrial or non-architectural use. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Paint must be in its original container, 5 gallons or smaller, with the manufacturer's printed label. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare drop-off sites do not accept containers that are leaking, empty, or missing the original printed label. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PaintCare: FAQs (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
  • PaintCare's general FAQ (not specific to Colorado) says sites limit how much paint they take per visit, but every site accepts at least 5 gallons; call ahead. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare says paint that has completely dried out (rock hard) can go in the trash, with the lid off so collectors can see it holds no liquid. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare drop-off sites do not accept empty paint cans. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Not every paint store takes back paint; retailers are PaintCare drop-off sites voluntarily. Checked October 26, 2026.
• CDPHE: Paint stewardship and recycling (opens in new tab) · Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
  • Since July 1, 2015, the Architectural Paint Stewardship Act has allowed PaintCare, a nonprofit, to collect unused paint in Colorado. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Collected latex paint is reused or recycled into new paint; oil-based paint can be used as fuel. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 25 (Part 3 of Article 17: Electronic Recycling Jobs Act) (opens in new tab) · Colorado General Assembly, Office of Legislative Legal Services
  • Colorado's paint stewardship law is the Architectural Paint Stewardship Act (C.R.S. 25-17-401 et seq.). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The law requires the paint stewardship plan to give at least 90% of Colorado residents a permanent paint collection site within 15 miles of home. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.