Paint Recycling in Knoxville, TN

Oil-based paint goes free to the city HHW facility at 1033 Elm Street (20 gallons a day); latex paint must be dried and thrown away.

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

3 ways to get rid of a paint in Knoxville

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

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · KnoxvilleNo 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 →
City of Knoxville Household Hazardous Waste FacilityDrop-off · 1033 Elm Street, KnoxvilleConditions applyFree
Where
1033 Elm Street
Knoxville, TN 37921
Hours
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 7 a.m.-3:45 p.m.; Wed 7-11:45 a.m.; Sat 8-11:45 a.m.; closed Sunday
Cost & rules
Paint
Accepted with conditionsFree (documented)
Oil-based paint only (up to 20 gallons per day); latex paint is not accepted — dry it and put it in the trash.
Limit: Up to 100 pounds of HHW per day; no containers over 5 gallons.
Full details & sources Official site (opens in new tab)
Knox County Convenience CentersCounty service · Knox CountyKnox County residentsConditions applyFree
How it works
Seven free, self-service drop-off centers for Knox County residents' household trash, bulky waste and recycling: Carter (8815 Asheville Hwy), Dutchtown (10618 Dutchtown Rd), Halls (3608 Neal Dr), John Sevier (1950 W. Governor John Sevier Hwy), Karns (6930 Karns Crossing Ln), Powell (7311 Morton View Ln) and Tazewell Pike/Gibbs (7201 Tazewell Pike). Open Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sat 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; closed Wednesdays, Sundays and holidays. The Census geocoder places the centers it matched in unincorporated Knox County (Halls and Powell CDPs), outside Knoxville city limits. Phone 865-215-5865.
Cost & rules
- Only completely dried latex paint, brought without lids for inspection; oil-based paint goes to the HHW facility.
Official page (opens in new tab)

Places that don’t take paint (1)

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 (22)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

Convenience Centers (opens in new tab) · Knox County Solid Waste
- There are no fees to use Knox County Convenience Centers. Checked October 26, 2026.
- The centers are only for Knox County residents bringing their own residential waste and recycling; businesses, rental-property waste and contractors are sent to paid facilities. Checked October 26, 2026.
Bulky Do-It-Yourself Demolition Waste (opens in new tab) · Knox County Solid Waste
- Waste from outside Knox County is not accepted; users need a Knox license plate or proof of residency. Checked October 26, 2026.
Paint Disposal (opens in new tab) · Knox County Solid Waste
- Completely dried latex paint cans may be brought without lids for operator inspection and then placed in the bulky compactor. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Oil and lead-based paint and stain must go to the Household Hazardous Waste facility at 1033 Elm Street. Checked October 26, 2026.
Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab) · City of Knoxville Waste & Resources Management
- There is no fee to drop off accepted household hazardous waste; businesses, nonprofits and churches must contract privately. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Residents may bring up to 20 gallons of oil-based paint and up to 100 pounds of HHW per day; no containers over 5 gallons. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Only oil-based paint is accepted (20-gallon daily limit); latex paint is not accepted and should be solidified for the trash. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Since March 2018 latex paint is no longer accepted; solidify it at home and put it in household trash. 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.
- Residents of Knox, Hamilton, Davidson, Putnam and Shelby counties may also use the permanent HHW site in their county. 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.

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