How do I dispose of leftover paint and paint cans properly in New Brunswick?

In New Brunswick, leftover paint and empty paint cans should be brought to a PaintCare or municipal household hazardous waste (HHW) depot — pouring paint down the drain, into the ground, or putting liquid paint in the garbage is illegal and environmentally harmful. The good news is that paint recycling is free and genuinely convenient across most of NB.

Canada's PaintCare program operates drop-off locations at hardware and paint stores across New Brunswick, including locations in Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John, Bathurst, Miramichi, and smaller communities. Most Benjamin Moore dealers, Sherwin-Williams stores, Dulux retailers, and many Home Hardware locations participate. You can drop off both interior and exterior latex and oil-based paints, stains, varnishes, and primers. The program is funded by a small environmental handling fee built into every gallon of paint sold in Canada, so the drop-off is free for residents. Check the PaintCare website (paintcare.ca) for the nearest drop-off location.

Many NB municipalities also run seasonal or permanent household hazardous waste collection events where paint is accepted. The City of Moncton, the City of Fredericton, and the City of Saint John each have HHW programs — check your municipal website for current collection dates and locations. These events also accept other painting-related hazardous materials like paint thinners, solvents, mineral spirits, and old oil-based caulking.

Latex paint handling tips before disposal:

If you have a small amount of leftover latex (water-based) paint — say, less than a quarter of a can — you can dry it out and put it in your regular garbage in most NB municipalities once it is completely solid. Stir in cat litter, sawdust, or commercial paint hardener to speed up the process. Liquid latex paint cannot go in the regular garbage. Dried paint in a can with the lid off is generally accepted in municipal solid waste once solid. Check your municipality's specific rules, as policies vary.

Oil-based paint, stains, and solvents must always go through an HHW drop-off or PaintCare, regardless of quantity or state. These products contain VOCs and flammable compounds that make them hazardous — never put them in the garbage or pour them on the ground.

Keeping leftover paint for touch-ups is genuinely useful — pour it into a smaller container to minimize air exposure, label it clearly with the room name and paint colour, and store it in a climate-controlled space (a cold garage in NB winter will ruin latex paint). A properly sealed container in a basement or interior closet can keep touch-up paint usable for 2-5 years.

For larger project cleanups, professional painters should be handling their own waste disposal as part of the service — if you are hiring someone, it is reasonable to ask how they dispose of leftover materials.

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