Paint Recycling in Cookeville, TN

Oil-based paint goes to the Putnam County HHW facility on West Jackson Street (5 gallons a week); dry latex paint and put it in the household trash.

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

2 ways to get rid of a paint in Cookeville

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

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · CookevilleNo 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 →
Putnam County Household Hazardous Waste FacilityDrop-off · 2101-A West Jackson St, CookevillePutnam County residentsConditions applyCost not listed
Where
2101-A West Jackson St
Cookeville, TN 38501
Hours
Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; nothing accepted without staff present
Cost & rules
Paint
Accepted with conditionsCost unknown
Fees aren’t recorded. Don’t assume drop-off is free.
Oil-based paint only; latex paint is not accepted (solidify it and put it in household trash).
Limit: 5 gallons per week.
Full details & sources Official site (opens in new tab)

Places that don’t take paint (2)

Upper Cumberland Habitat ReStore (Cookeville) · Cookeville
Tennessee Mobile Household Hazardous Waste Collection Service (TDEC) · Tennessee

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

Tennessee rules

It is illegal to put wet latex paint in a Tennessee landfill; once completely dried, latex paint may go in the trash. Source: TDEC Materials Management: Household Batteries, Oil, Paint, Antifreeze, and Electronics (BOPAE) (opens in new tab)
Use up or give away latex paint, or dry it with kitty litter, sawdust or shredded paper and put it in the regular garbage. Source: TDEC Materials Management: Household Hazardous Waste Program (HHW) (opens in new tab)

More Tennessee rules (4)

Oil-based paint from households is household hazardous waste and cannot go in the trash; use it up, give it away or take it to a county paint collection facility if one exists. Source: TDEC Materials Management: Household Batteries, Oil, Paint, Antifreeze, and Electronics (BOPAE) (opens in new tab)
Counties that want mobile HHW service must collect oil-based paint regularly at a fixed location; the state HHW contractor picks it up. Source: TDEC Materials Management: Household Hazardous Waste Program (HHW) (opens in new tab)
PaintCare runs paint recycling programs only in states with paint stewardship laws. Source: PaintCare: Paint recycling and drop-off locations (state list) (opens in new tab)
PaintCare's state list does not include Tennessee: there is no PaintCare paint stewardship program in Tennessee. Source: PaintCare: Paint recycling and drop-off locations (state list) (opens in new tab)

Where this information comes from (18)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

Solid Waste and Recycling (opens in new tab) · Putnam County Solid Waste and Recycling
- Accepted: oil-based paint (5-gallon limit per week) and rechargeable batteries (no alkaline), among other household hazardous products. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Not accepted: latex paint, automotive batteries, antifreeze and used oil. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Putnam County Solid Waste and Recycling only accepts waste generated in Putnam County. Checked October 26, 2026.
Commercial & Special Sanitation Services (opens in new tab) · City of Cookeville Public Works
- Dry small amounts of latex paint, mix large amounts with cat litter, then put it in the household trash; wet paint cannot go in the garbage bin. Checked October 26, 2026.
ReStore (opens in new tab) · Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity
- Not accepted: mattresses and box springs, sleeper sofas and futons, used paint and entertainment centers. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Donations are accepted Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., with free pickup for larger items within 30 miles of the store. Checked October 26, 2026.
TDEC Materials Management: Household Batteries, Oil, Paint, Antifreeze, and Electronics (BOPAE) (opens in new tab) · Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
- It is illegal to put wet latex paint in a Tennessee landfill; once completely dried, latex paint may go in the trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Oil-based paint from households is household hazardous waste and cannot go in the trash; use it up, give it away or take it to a county paint collection facility if one exists. Checked October 26, 2026.
TDEC Materials Management: Household Hazardous Waste Program (HHW) (opens in new tab) · Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
- Use up or give away latex paint, or dry it with kitty litter, sawdust or shredded paper and put it in the regular garbage. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Counties that want mobile HHW service must collect oil-based paint regularly at a fixed location; the state HHW contractor picks it up. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Tennessee's Mobile HHW Collection Service has run since 1993, is open to Tennessee citizens and is limited to households. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Any Tennessee resident may use the service; only household waste is accepted, not commercial, institutional or agri-business waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Mobile HHW collections no longer take alkaline batteries, paint or electronics. Checked October 26, 2026.
- For paint, TDEC tells residents to contact their local solid waste department. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Very small quantity generator businesses may use mobile events only by paid appointment through the state contractor. Checked October 26, 2026.
- VSQG disposal is priced by material type, generally per pound. Checked October 26, 2026.
PaintCare: Paint recycling and drop-off locations (state list) (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
- PaintCare's state list does not include Tennessee: there is no PaintCare paint stewardship program in Tennessee. Checked October 26, 2026.
- PaintCare runs paint recycling programs only in states with paint stewardship laws. 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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