Paint Recycling in South Portland, ME

The Transfer Facility does not take oil-based paint; South Portland residents can bring paint, stain and varnish to the free yearly household hazardous waste drop-off (usually mid-October). Riverside Recycling in Portland takes PaintCare paint free on its monthly hazardous waste days.

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Checked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check

4 ways to get rid of a paint in South Portland

Tap an option to see the address, hours, cost and rules.

All 4 Free 3 Drop-off 1 Services & pickup 3

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · South PortlandNo haulingWe recycle it for youFrom $70.00
How it works
Book online, set out your paint and we’ll pick it up and recycle it for you. You see your price before you book and pay only after pickup.
Book a pickup →
PaintCare Maine paint drop-off programNonprofit service · MaineMaine residentsFree
How it works
Maine's paint stewardship program, run by PaintCare since October 2015 and funded by a fee on paint sold in Maine. About 130 year-round drop-off sites (stores and town transfer stations) take house paint, primers, stains, sealers and clear coatings at no charge. Call the site first; empty, leaking, contaminated or hardened paint is refused. Residents of other states should not bring paint into Maine.
Cost & rules
- House paint, primers, stains, sealers and clear coatings only. Empty, leaking, contaminated or hardened paint is refused.
- Before you go: Call the drop-off site first, especially a store, and come during open hours.
Official page (opens in new tab)
South Portland annual Household Hazardous Waste drop-offCity service · South PortlandSouth Portland residentsConditions applyFree
How it works
Free once-a-year drop-off for South Portland residents, usually around the second Saturday in October, at the Municipal Services Facility, 929 Highland Ave. (2026: Saturday, October 10, 8 a.m.–noon). It takes paint, stain and varnish, solvents, pesticides, fuels and rechargeable batteries. It does not take electronics, appliances or alkaline batteries.
Cost & rules
- Once a year, usually around the second Saturday in October.
Official page (opens in new tab)
Riverside Recycling FacilityDrop-off · outside South Portland · 910 Riverside Street, PortlandOpen to everyoneConditions applyFree
Where
910 Riverside Street
Portland, ME 04103
Hours
Mon–Sat 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; closed Sunday and holidays
Cost & rules
Paint
Accepted with conditionsFree (documented)
Taken on household hazardous waste days: the first Saturday of each month, April–November, 7:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Free for PaintCare-acceptable paint, stain and varnish; other hazardous waste costs $6.50 per gallon (liquid) or $3.50 per pound (solid) without an E-Card.
Open to Maine residents disposing of waste from their own home; no business waste.
Full details & sources Official site (opens in new tab)

Places that don’t take paint (1)

South Portland Transfer Facility · 929 Highland Avenue, South Portland

Before you go

Note whether it’s latex (water-based) or oil-based; programs often treat them differently.
Keep paint in its original, labelled, closed container.
Ask about quantity limits per visit.

More about paint

Where this information comes from (19)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

Maine DEP: What can I recycle, and where? (opens in new tab) · Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- DEP says Maine has a free paint recycling program. Checked October 26, 2026.
PaintCare: Maine (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
- PaintCare drop-off sites across Maine take leftover paint from households, businesses, agencies and others. Checked October 26, 2026.
- PaintCare takes house paint, primers, stains, sealers and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish. Checked October 26, 2026.
Maine DEP: Paint Stewardship Program (opens in new tab) · Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- The program is funded by a fee on paint sold in Maine; residents of other states should not bring paint into Maine. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Empty, leaking, contaminated or hardened paint is not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Call the drop-off site first, especially a store, and bring paint during open hours. Checked October 26, 2026.
Riverside Recycling: FAQ (opens in new tab) · Riverside Recycling (CPRC Management, for the City of Portland)
- Riverside Recycling is open to the public; Portland residency is not required and commercial customers are welcome. Checked October 26, 2026.
Riverside Recycling: Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab) · Riverside Recycling (CPRC Management, for the City of Portland)
- Household hazardous waste is collected the first Saturday of each month, April through November, 7:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The HHW program is open to all Maine residents disposing of household hazardous waste from their residence; no business waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Acceptable paint, stain and varnish can be dropped off at no charge through PaintCare. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Residential customers without an E-Card pay $6.50 per gallon of liquid or $3.50 per pound of solid hazardous waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
City of South Portland: Transfer Facility (opens in new tab) · City of South Portland
- The Transfer Facility is open to South Portland residents with a valid permit sticker. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The first permit sticker is free; a second for another vehicle costs $5. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Commercial use of the facility is not permitted (except landscape contractors with yard debris). Checked October 26, 2026.
City of South Portland: Transfer Facility Accepted Items & Fee Schedule (opens in new tab) · City of South Portland
- Oil-based paints and other household hazards are not accepted at the Transfer Facility. Checked October 26, 2026.
City of South Portland: Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab) · City of South Portland
- South Portland holds a household hazardous waste drop-off once a year, usually around the second Saturday in October, at the Municipal Services Facility, 929 Highland Ave. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The event is free of charge to South Portland residents. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Paint, stain and varnish are accepted at the HHW event. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The event is free to South Portland residents with a transfer station sticker or current proof of residency; no business waste. Checked October 26, 2026.

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

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