Paint Recycling in Mentor, OH

Oil-based paint goes to Lake County's Saturday universal waste drop-off at the landfill; latex paint is not accepted there.

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

2 ways to get rid of a paint in Mentor

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

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · MentorNo 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 →
Lake County universal waste drop-off (Saturdays)County service · Lake CountyLake County residentsConditions applyCost not listed
How it works
Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. drop-off for Lake County residents (not businesses) of universal waste such as batteries, oil-based paint, aerosols, antifreeze, motor oil and fluorescent bulbs, at the Lake County Solid Waste Facility (Landfill), 2039 Blase Nemeth Rd., Painesville Township, OH 44077 (the county page places it in Painesville Township; the Census geocoder returned no match). Landfill hours Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; all recyclers check in at the inbound scale house. Funded by a 2025 Ohio EPA grant. Latex paint is not accepted. The district also holds free household hazardous waste roundups at the Lake County Fairgrounds (two dated events per year).
Cost & rules
- Oil-based paints and stains only, in original containers; latex paint is not accepted. Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Official page (opens in new tab)

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

Ohio rules

Ohio EPA: latex paint can be dried out (with paint hardener, cat litter or sawdust) and put in the trash; let your hauler verify it is not liquid. Source: Ohio EPA: Dispose of Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
Ohio EPA: leave the lid off dried latex paint so your trash hauler can verify it is not liquid. Source: Ohio EPA: Dispose of Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)

More Ohio rules (13)

PaintCare operates in twelve states and the District of Columbia; Ohio is not one of them. Source: PaintCare: PaintCare States (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)
For businesses, paint and paint-related wastes (and antifreeze) are Ohio-specific universal wastes. Source: Ohio EPA DERR: Universal Waste (opens in new tab)
PaintCare's state list (California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington) does not include Ohio: there is no PaintCare program in Ohio. Source: PaintCare: Paint recycling and drop-off locations (state list) (opens in new tab)
ORC 3734.65: mercury-containing thermostats may not be sold or installed in Ohio, except in a visually impaired person's home or for manufacturing process control. Source: Ohio Revised Code 3734.65: Sale or installation of mercury-containing thermostat (opens in new tab)
Ohio EPA: household lamps are not regulated as hazardous waste, but homeowners are encouraged to recycle them; Home Depot and Lowe's take compact fluorescent bulbs free at all stores. Source: Ohio EPA: Dispose of Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
Ohio EPA: household hazardous waste disposal is usually controlled by the local or county solid waste management district; contact your district for facilities that accept it. Source: Ohio EPA: Dispose of Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
Ohio EPA oversees 52 solid waste management districts responsible for making sure Ohioans can reduce, reuse and recycle. Source: Ohio EPA DMWM: Solid Waste Management Planning (opens in new tab)
Every Ohio county must belong to a solid waste management district, alone or jointly with other counties. Source: Ohio EPA DMWM: FAQs (opens in new tab)
Ohio EPA: your local solid waste management district is your first source of disposal and recycling information. Source: Ohio EPA DMWM: FAQs (opens in new tab)
Ohio's 88 counties are organized into 52 solid waste management districts and authorities. Source: Ohio EPA DMWM Guidance/Fact Sheet 1005: Solid Waste Management Districts (PDF, June 2017) (opens in new tab)
Ohio EPA: district collection events (HHW, electronics, tires, appliances) are usually for district residents only, may charge fees or require appointments, and are for household materials only. Source: Ohio EPA: Special Collection Events by Solid Waste Management District (PDF, updated December 2021) (opens in new tab)
Ohio's state disposal and environmental protection fee is $4.75 per ton of solid waste. Source: Ohio EPA DMWM: FAQs (opens in new tab)

Where this information comes from (20)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

Community Recycling Options (opens in new tab) · Lake County Department of Utilities, Solid Waste Division
- Universal waste is accepted only at the landfill on Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Universal waste drop-off is for Lake County residents, not businesses, in original containers. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Oil-based paints, oil-based wood stains and aluminum-based paints are accepted as universal waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Latex paint is not accepted in the universal waste program. Checked October 26, 2026.
Waste Removal & Recycling (opens in new tab) · City of Mentor
- Mentor notes the Lake County Solid Waste District holds a household hazardous waste collection twice a year at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio Revised Code 3734.65: Sale or installation of mercury-containing thermostat (opens in new tab) · Ohio Legislative Service Commission (Ohio Laws)
- ORC 3734.65: mercury-containing thermostats may not be sold or installed in Ohio, except in a visually impaired person's home or for manufacturing process control. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio EPA: Dispose of Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab) · Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Ohio EPA: household lamps are not regulated as hazardous waste, but homeowners are encouraged to recycle them; Home Depot and Lowe's take compact fluorescent bulbs free at all stores. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Ohio EPA: latex paint can be dried out (with paint hardener, cat litter or sawdust) and put in the trash; let your hauler verify it is not liquid. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Ohio EPA: leave the lid off dried latex paint so your trash hauler can verify it is not liquid. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Ohio EPA: household hazardous waste disposal is usually controlled by the local or county solid waste management district; contact your district for facilities that accept it. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio EPA DERR: Universal Waste (opens in new tab) · Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- For businesses, paint and paint-related wastes (and antifreeze) are Ohio-specific universal wastes. Checked October 26, 2026.
PaintCare: Paint recycling and drop-off locations (state list) (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
- PaintCare's state list (California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington) does not include Ohio: there is no PaintCare program in Ohio. Checked October 26, 2026.
- PaintCare runs paint recycling programs only in states with paint stewardship laws. Checked October 26, 2026.
PaintCare: PaintCare States (opens in new tab) · PaintCare Inc.
- PaintCare operates in twelve states and the District of Columbia; Ohio is not one of them. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio EPA DMWM: Solid Waste Management Planning (opens in new tab) · Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Ohio EPA oversees 52 solid waste management districts responsible for making sure Ohioans can reduce, reuse and recycle. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio EPA DMWM: FAQs (opens in new tab) · Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Every Ohio county must belong to a solid waste management district, alone or jointly with other counties. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Ohio EPA: your local solid waste management district is your first source of disposal and recycling information. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Ohio's state disposal and environmental protection fee is $4.75 per ton of solid waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio EPA DMWM Guidance/Fact Sheet 1005: Solid Waste Management Districts (PDF, June 2017) (opens in new tab) · Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Ohio's 88 counties are organized into 52 solid waste management districts and authorities. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio EPA: Special Collection Events by Solid Waste Management District (PDF, updated December 2021) (opens in new tab) · Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Ohio EPA: district collection events (HHW, electronics, tires, appliances) are usually for district residents only, may charge fees or require appointments, and are for household materials only. 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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