Latex vs oil paint — which drop-off, when drying is allowed (unofficial)

Hours, fees, and gates change. Confirm on the official page the morning you go. This page is unofficial and not the county. Not a hauler. Not PaintCare. Holiday names and holiday clock hours: not stated. Separate HHW-compound clock beyond Transfer Station hours: not stated. This is the latex-vs-oil explainer — the MoCo geo leftover-paint page is a different lookup.

Which kind is it?

1. 1

   Latex / water-based leftover, still wet — want to drop it off?

   HHW · or PaintCare (architectural)

   Shady Grove HHW: up to 5 gallons of wet paint per calendar month, Montgomery County residents, proof of residency. Attendants may refuse commercial-looking loads. Or a PaintCare drop-off site if it is an architectural coating that carried the PaintCare fee (house paint, primer, stain, sealer, shellac, varnish). Facility clock: Mon–Sat 7 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun 9 a.m.–5 p.m. commercial entrance only. Call PaintCare sites ahead.

2. 2

   Latex / water-based — dry it at home, then trash?

   Dry-out allowed · then household trash

   County How Do I still requires residual latex / water-based paint to be hardened or dried before trash. Wet or soft paint that could spill is left as unacceptable. <1/4 full: lid off, safe ventilated area, few days. More than 1/4 full: add waste paint hardener (one packet generally treats up to one gallon), or mulch / kitty litter / shredded paper (takes longer); stir thoroughly; set aside ~30 minutes until tacky / oatmeal-like and will not spill. Then lids off; put lids and cans in a plastic trash bag with regular household trash (bags must be in rigid trash cans). County-provided trash: up to 4 paint cans per set-out, each under 45 lb. More than 4: free bulk collection if you have county trash service (private hauler: contact your hauler). Do not pour liquid paint down a drain, storm sewer, or into trash.

3. 3

   Oil-based paint, stain, or solvent-based coating from home?

   HHW · Shady Grove

   Oil How Do I: accepted as household hazardous waste at Shady Grove at no additional charge for residents. Cap: up to 5 gallons wet paint per calendar month; proof of residency; attendants may refuse commercial-looking loads. Transport in a sealed, leak-proof container or bag; keep the vehicle ventilated. Empty oil-based paint / stain cans → regular trash. No curbside pickup of HHW. Business paint may qualify for ECOWISE (contractors: Wednesday 1–5 p.m., they pay — HHW page).

4. 4

   PaintCare-eligible architectural coating (latex or oil-based house paint, primer, stain, sealer, shellac, varnish)?

   PaintCare locator · free drop-off

   PaintCare Maryland began April 2026. Use the PaintCare drop-off site locator — this page does not list stores. Free drop-off (program funded by a point-of-sale fee on new paint). All sites accept at least 5 gallons per visit; some take more — call ahead. Original container, original label, secured lid, ≤5 gal container size. Not accepted: aerosols, solvents, leaking, unlabeled, or empty containers. State programs are for people based in that state.

5. 5

   Spray / aerosol can?

   Not PaintCare · brief path only

   PaintCare does not accept aerosol coatings. County oil How Do I: empty aerosol cans that held oil-based products → regular trash; cans that still contain product and are from your home → Shady Grove HHW. Full spray-paint page is queue #15 later — not expanded here.

6. 6

   Still usable, not frozen?

   Paint Giveaway · or neighbor list

   How Do I (latex and oil): bring usable, not-frozen paint to Shady Grove HHW for the Paint Giveaway — first-come; recipients sign a waiver; colors not guaranteed. Or offer it on a neighborhood email list, Buy Nothing, Craigslist, Freecycle, or similar. Wet HHW drop-off still capped at 5 gal wet paint / calendar month.

7. 7

   Looks commercial, or over 5 gallons wet in a calendar month at HHW?

   ECOWISE / 311 · not free resident path

   Oil How Do I / HHW: attendants may refuse commercial-looking loads. Contractors (or people believed to be contractors) register for ECOWISE and pay for paint disposal Wednesday 1–5 p.m. Over 15 gallons liquid or 75 lb solid: call 311 (or 240-777-0311) before you go (HHW How Do I pattern). PaintCare Large Volume Pickup exists for 100+ gallons of architectural paint — separate from county HHW.

Do not pour paint down a drain, storm sewer, or as liquid in household trash. Last-checked 8 Sep 2026.

Where to go

Unreconciled Sunday: HHW directions say Frederick Rd / Recycling Area; facility/hours pages say Sunday use the Commercial and Truck entrance only (16055 Shady Grove Road, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.). This page does not pick a winner. Confirm the morning you go. Last-checked 8 Sep 2026.

Bring this

• Proof of residency for Shady Grove residential drop-off: Maryland license or photo ID with a Montgomery County address; a current utility bill with a physical MoCo address and your name; or a mortgage statement / lease in your name for a physical MoCo address. Out-of-county plates still need one of those. Proof of County Residency.
• Wet paint to HHW: sealed, leak-proof container or bag; keep the vehicle ventilated (oil How Do I). Cap: up to 5 gallons wet paint per calendar month.
• PaintCare: original manufacturer container and label, secured lid, no leaks, container ≤5 gallons. Pack cans in a sturdy cardboard box. Call the site ahead.
• Usable, not-frozen paint if you are going to the Paint Giveaway (sign a waiver).
• Latex dry-out supplies if you choose trash: waste paint hardener, or kitty litter / mulch / shredded paper (county language — no product pitch here).
• Covered load if you self-haul trash. PPE (high-vis vest, hard hat, closed-toe shoes) is required on the main tipping floor — not described as required for the HHW compound.

Not here

• Liquid paint poured down a drain, storm sewer, or into household trash.
• Wet / soft latex left for curbside collection (crews leave it as unacceptable).
• PaintCare: aerosol coatings, solvents, leaking, unlabeled, or empty containers.
• A scraped list of PaintCare retail stores (use the locator).
• Showing up over 5 gallons wet paint in a calendar month at HHW without calling 311 / using ECOWISE when commercial.
• Invented hours, fees, star ratings, or “we tested” claims.
• Full spray-paint / aerosol page (queue #15 — brief note only here).
• Meds / sharps pages (YMYL — not this site).

Official sources

• How Do I — latex / water-based paint (dry-out steps; wet 5 gal/month; giveaway; curbside 4 cans / 45 lb)
• How Do I — oil-based paint (HHW; empty cans → trash; aerosols empty vs product left; giveaway)
• Hazardous Waste Drop-Off / Paint Giveaway
• Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station (hours, two entrances, Sunday rule)
• Proof of County Residency
• PaintCare Maryland (program began April 2026; fee schedule; 113 year-round sites as of fetch)
• PaintCare drop-off site locator (link only — no scrape)
• PaintCare — products we accept (aerosols / leaking / empty refused)
• PaintCare FAQs