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Paint Recycling in Rochester, MN

Rochester residents bring paint free to the Olmsted County Hazardous Waste Facility at 305 Energy Parkway NE.

See all 3 options

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

3 ways to get rid of a paint in Rochester

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

  1. CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · RochesterNo 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 →

  2. Olmsted County Hazardous Waste FacilityCounty service · Olmsted CountyFree
    How it works

    County household hazardous waste facility at 305 Energy Parkway NE, Rochester, MN 55906 (address not matched by the Census geocoder), open Tuesday–Saturday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Takes paints, batteries, pesticides and other household hazardous waste free from residents.

    Official page (opens in new tab)

  3. PaintCare Minnesota paint drop-off programNonprofit service · MinnesotaOpen to everyoneFree
    How it works

    Paint stewardship program under Minn. Stat. 115A.1415, overseen by the MPCA and running since November 2014. PaintCare lists 265 year-round drop-off sites where households, businesses, government agencies and others can leave house paint, primers, stains, sealers and clear coatings at no charge. Free pickup is available for 100+ gallons.

    Cost & rules
    • House paint, primers, stains, sealers and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish, in containers of 5 gallons or less. Industrial, original equipment and specialty coatings are not covered.
    • Free pickup for 100+ gallons through PaintCare's large volume pickup service.
    • Use PaintCare's site locator to find one of about 265 year-round drop-off sites; many are retailers or county household hazardous waste sites.

    Official page (opens in new tab)

Before you go

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

Minnesota rules

More Minnesota rules (9)
Where this information comes from (20)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

  • Hazardous Waste Facility (opens in new tab) · Olmsted County Environmental Resources
    • Residents can bring household hazardous waste, including automotive, rechargeable and button batteries and paints. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Items accepted at mobile collections can also be brought to the Hazardous Waste Facility for free. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Garbage & Recycling (opens in new tab) · City of Rochester
    • Rochester says Olmsted County offers many waste diversion programs for Rochester residents and links its Household Hazardous Waste Recycling page. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare: Minnesota (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
    • PaintCare drop-off sites throughout Minnesota are open to households, businesses, government agencies and others with leftover paint. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • There is no charge for dropping off paint at a PaintCare drop-off site; the program is funded by the PaintCare fee on new paint. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • PaintCare lists 265 year-round drop-off sites in Minnesota; the program began in November 2014. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • PaintCare sites accept house paint, primers, stains, sealers and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • PaintCare offers a free large volume pickup service for 100+ gallons of unwanted paint. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • The PaintCare fee in Minnesota, added to the price of new paint by container size: $0.00 for a half pint or smaller, $0.49 for larger than a half pint to under 1 gallon, $0.99 for 1-2 gallons, $1.99 for larger than 2 up to 5 gallons. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • The PaintCare fee is not a tax or a deposit; it funds the whole paint stewardship program. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Minnesota Statutes 115A.1415 Architectural paint product stewardship program (opens in new tab) · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
    • Architectural paint under the law means interior and exterior architectural coatings sold in containers of five gallons or less, not industrial, original equipment or specialty coatings. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Architectural paint may not be sold in Minnesota unless its producer takes part in an approved stewardship plan. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • The stewardship plan must explain how paint will be collected statewide without end-of-life fees, considering the existing household hazardous waste infrastructure when choosing sites. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • PaintCare: Paint recycling and drop-off locations (state list) (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
    • PaintCare lists Minnesota among the states where it runs paint recycling programs on behalf of paint companies under paint stewardship laws. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Minnesota Statutes 115A.932 Mercury prohibition (opens in new tab) · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
    • Administrative penalties for a household that violates the mercury disposal ban may not exceed $700. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Minnesota Statutes 115A.96 Household hazardous waste; management (opens in new tab) · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
    • Household hazardous waste is waste from household activity that has the characteristics of, or is listed as, hazardous waste, not waste from commercial activity in a home. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • The MPCA must run a statewide household hazardous waste program, including collection sites and information, education and technical assistance. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • Each county must have a household hazardous waste management plan (education, reduction, and separating and collecting HHW from trash) and had to implement it by June 30, 1992. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • HHW programs must be allowed to accept up to 100 pounds of waste a year from a business generating 220 pounds or less of hazardous waste a month. Checked October 26, 2026.
    • An HHW collection site is a permanent or temporary location with scheduled hours where people may bring household hazardous 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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