Paint Recycling in Chattanooga, TN

The city HHW facility takes oil-based paint, free for Hamilton County residents. It does not take latex or acrylic paint.

See all 2 options

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

2 ways to get rid of a paint in Chattanooga

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

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · ChattanoogaNo 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 →
Chattanooga Household Hazardous Waste Collection FacilityCity service · ChattanoogaTennessee residentsConditions applyFree
How it works
City of Chattanooga-run permanent household hazardous waste drop-off for Tennessee residents (state driver's license required), open Tuesday-Saturday 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; up to 15 gallons or 150 pounds per household. Free to Hamilton County residents. The city page does not print the street address; call 311 or (423) 643-6311 for directions.
Cost & rules
- Oil-based paint only; latex/acrylic paint is not accepted.
- Free for Hamilton County residents.
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 (18)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (opens in new tab) · City of Chattanooga Public Works
- The facility lets Tennessee residents dispose of household hazardous materials; a state-issued driver's license showing Tennessee residency is required. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Only residential hazardous materials are accepted; businesses must use a commercial hazardous waste hauler. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Maximum 15 gallons or 150 pounds per household. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Accepted include oil-based paint, paint remover/thinner, wet cell and dry cell batteries, computer related electronics, motor oil and pesticides. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Latex/acrylic paint is not accepted because it is not toxic. Checked October 26, 2026.
Landfill (opens in new tab) · City of Chattanooga Public Works
- The city landfill page says the Household Hazardous Waste Facility is free to any Hamilton County resident. 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.
- 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.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.

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