What do I do with a can of paint?

Empty steel cans (and all lids) go in with Tin Cans for recycling, if the bottom is black, then it’s plastic, and it goes in the trash. Empty means that no paint pours out when it’d held upside down. Never dispose of a can with the lid on.

Cans that have been left to dry (and nothing pours out) can go in the trash. If you have a can of paint that’s part full, you can harden the liquid by adding a hardener from the paint store, or stir in speedy dry or cat litter. Another way is to pour the paint onto any fabric (old sheet etc.) and let it dry in the sun for a few hours. When dry, roll it up and put it in the trash.

Oil based paints, varnishes, etc. have a once a year collection (usually in mid-September). This is called Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) day and for years we have been a guest of Dover (along with Madbury and Rollinsford). The collection site is at the Dover Transfer Station at 271 Mast Rd. Follow Rt. 155 over the Dover town line to Garland Garage and turn right onto Freshet Rd. After a mile you take the left fork onto Mast Rd. The collection Center is on your left and well signed. It is 7.2 miles from the Lee T.S. We have gotten calls from residents on how well it was run!

Most paints today are Latex and are not taken as HHW. So in most cases, the paint has to be dried to be dispose of.