Program Details
PaintCare offers drop-off sites throughout the District of Columbia where the public can take unwanted paint for recycling. These sites are available to households, government agencies, and others with leftover paint.
Drop Off Paint
Large Volume Pickup (LVP) Service
If you have a large amount of unwanted paint (100+ gallons), PaintCare offers a free service to painting contractors, property managers, and others with large amounts of leftover architectural paint.
Products We Accept
PaintCare sites accept house paint as well as primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish. Accepted products, also referred to as “PaintCare products” and “architectural coatings,” are the same ones that carry the PaintCare fee when purchased.
Fee and Funding
PaintCare programs are funded by a fee (referred to as the PaintCare fee) which is applied to the purchase price of each container of new paint sold in the District. There is no charge for dropping off paint at a PaintCare drop-off site. The PaintCare fee is not a tax or a deposit. The fee funds all aspects of the paint stewardship program.
For more information on the fee, visit the PaintCare Fee Page.
The fee in the District of Columbia is based on container size as follows:
Official Documents
Summary of 2024 District of Columbia Annual Report
This one-page infographic highlights the successes from the most recent reporting period (January to December 2024) for the District of Columbia PaintCare program. Please consider downloading and printing a copy of the infographic and then posting it for staff and the public at your business or organization.
Annual Reports
- 2024 Annual Report (January – December 2024)
- 2023 Annual Report (January – December 2023)
- 2022 Annual Report (January – December 2022)
- 2021 Annual Report (January – December 2021)
- 2020 Annual Report (January – December 2020)
- 2019 Annual Report (January – December 2019)
- 2018 Annual Report (January – December 2018)
- 2017 Annual Report (November 2016 – December 2017)
Oversight Agency
The oversight agency for the District of Columbia paint stewardship program is the District Department of Energy and Environment.
Program Plan
PaintCare’s program plan describes the operations, outreach, and other activities of the District of Columbia Paint Stewardship Program:
- District of Columbia Paint Stewardship Program Plan (December 17, 2021)
Law
Laws relevant to the PaintCare program in the District of Columbia can be at https://code.dccouncil.gov/
- Code of the District of Columbia
- Title 8. Environmental and Animal Control and Protection
- Chapter 2A. Paint Hazards and Paint Stewardship
- Subchapter II. Paint Stewardship
- Sections 8-233.01 – 8-233.06
Regulations relevant to the PaintCare program in the District of Columbia can be found at https://dcregs.dc.gov/default.aspx
- District of Columbia Municipal Regulations
- Title 20. Environment
- Chapter 20-40. Paint Stewardship
- Sections 4000 – 4099