MoCo Drop-Off · unofficial lookup · not Montgomery County

Where to take leftover paint in Montgomery County, MD

Latex vs oil, hours, ID, 5-gallon cap. Last checked 29 Aug 2026.

Hours and caps change. Confirm on the official page the morning you go. Do not pour paint down a drain, storm sewer, or as liquid in the trash. This page is unofficial and not the county.

Which kind is it?

Still usable, not frozen — Shady Grove Paint Giveaway (waiver, first-come) or a neighbor list.
Latex / water-based leftover — dry it at home, then trash; or drop wet at HHW / a PaintCare site (5 gal/month wet at HHW).
Oil-based, stain, solvent — HHW at Shady Grove (no extra charge for residents) or PaintCare if it is an architectural coating.
Spray cans with product left — HHW. Empty spray cans go in the trash.
Looks commercial, or more than 5 gal wet this month — ECOWISE (contractors: Wednesday 1–5 p.m., they pay) or call 311. Over 15 gal liquid / 75 lb solid: call 311 first.

Where to go

Site	What to know
Shady Grove HHW / Paint Giveaway	16101 Frederick Rd, Derwood MD 20855. Use the Rt 355 / Frederick Rd entrance, Recycling Area, blue chain-link compound. 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon–Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun (Sunday uses the truck entrance: 16055 Shady Grove Rd, Gaithersburg). Residents only, home-generated, proof of residency. Attendants can refuse commercial-looking loads. Latex: usable wet → giveaway. Leftover wet → HHW, 5 gal/month. Dried → trash (curbside: up to 4 cans, each under 45 lb). Oil: HHW, no extra charge. Transfer-station trash fees are separate; no cash or checks (debit/credit, including Amex). 311 or 240-777-0311 HHW · latex · oil · hours
PaintCare retail sites	Statewide, started April 2026. 113 year-round sites as of 29 Aug 2026. Architectural coatings only (house paint, primer, stain, sealer, shellac, varnish). Free drop-off. New-paint fee funds it ($0 half-pint; $0.50 under 1 gal; $1.15 for 1–2 gal; $2.25 up to 5 gal). 855-724-6809. Use their locator; this page does not copy their list. paintcare.org/states/maryland

Site

What to know

Shady Grove HHW / Paint Giveaway

16101 Frederick Rd, Derwood MD 20855. Use the Rt 355 / Frederick Rd entrance, Recycling Area, blue chain-link compound.
7 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon–Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun (Sunday uses the truck entrance: 16055 Shady Grove Rd, Gaithersburg).
Residents only, home-generated, proof of residency. Attendants can refuse commercial-looking loads.
Latex: usable wet → giveaway. Leftover wet → HHW, 5 gal/month. Dried → trash (curbside: up to 4 cans, each under 45 lb).
Oil: HHW, no extra charge. Transfer-station trash fees are separate; no cash or checks (debit/credit, including Amex).
311 or 240-777-0311
HHW · latex · oil · hours

PaintCare retail sites

Statewide, started April 2026. 113 year-round sites as of 29 Aug 2026.
Architectural coatings only (house paint, primer, stain, sealer, shellac, varnish).
Free drop-off. New-paint fee funds it ($0 half-pint; $0.50 under 1 gal; $1.15 for 1–2 gal; $2.25 up to 5 gal).
855-724-6809. Use their locator; this page does not copy their list.
paintcare.org/states/maryland

Bring this

Proof of residency: MD license/ID with a Montgomery County address, a current utility bill, or a mortgage/lease. Out-of-county plates still need one of those. Rules.
Sealed, leak-proof container or bag for wet paint. Ventilate the car.
Tipping floor (not the HHW compound) needs a high-vis vest, hard hat, and closed-toe shoes.

Dry latex at home

Under 1/4 full: lid off, ventilated, a few days. Fuller: paint hardener (or kitty litter, mulch, shredded paper), mix, wait about 30 minutes until it will not spill. Lids off, bag, trash. County collection: max 4 cans per set-out.

Official sources

County HHW / Paint Giveaway
County latex / water-based paint
County oil-based paint
Shady Grove hours and entrances
Proof of county residency
PaintCare Maryland (locator on their site; this page does not copy their list)