Paint Recycling in Vail, CO

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

• Town of Vail: Hard to Recycle Events (opens in new tab) · Town of Vail Environmental Sustainability Department
  • The Town of Vail holds an annual Hard to Recycle event; it is free for residential items for people who live and work in Vail. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Businesses may not dispose of items at the event. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The event is typically held in May. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The 2026 event was Friday, May 8, 2026, 10 am–3 pm, at the Ford Park parking lot. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Household hazardous waste including paint and stains is accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Eagle County: Landfill (hours, fees, punch pass) (opens in new tab) · Eagle County Solid Waste & Recycling
  • Tipping fees are waived for resident seniors 65+ disposing of their own residential waste at the landfill and HHW facility. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Eagle County: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab) · Eagle County Solid Waste & Recycling
  • From January 1, 2026: electronics $0.40/lb, latex paint $0.60/lb, flammable liquids and paint $0.70/lb. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Anyone living in their own home, apartment or condo may dispose of residential household waste free up to 20 items; landlords/property managers are treated as businesses. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Eagle County residents may bring household hazardous waste to the HHW Facility. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Latex and oil-based paint, thinners, strippers, varnishes and stains are accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PaintCare: drop-off site locator data (sites.json) (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
  • PaintCare lists Vail Valley Ace Hardware at 2111 N Frontage Rd W, 81657, (970) 476-8282, as a paint drop-off site. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare's listing for each of these drop-off sites says the site accepts latex and oil-based house paint, stains and varnish in containers up to 5 gallons. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The listings say the sites do not accept aerosols, containers without original labels, or leaking or empty containers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • For retail drop-off sites, PaintCare says paint is accepted during regular business hours and to call ahead to confirm the store can take the amount and type of paint. Checked October 26, 2026.
• PaintCare: Colorado program page (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
  • There is no charge for dropping off paint at a PaintCare drop-off site in Colorado. 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.