Paint and Paint Cans Don't Go in Trash Bags!
We get asked this a lot: What can I do with my paint cans, some of which may still have liquid paint in them.
First, the City can ONLY accept paint IF THE PAINT HAS HARDENED. You can do this by adding sawdust or cat litter to dry it out. There are also specialty products designed to harden paint that are available at local hardware stores. Then place the can on the curb for collection - NOT inside a trash bag.
DONATE IT: Consider donating your leftover paint to local nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity or your children's school or daycare center.
LIQUID PAINT: For any paint cans that are not dried out, as well as for any other hazardous household wastes, you can schedule a drop-off with St. Louis County. Their new drop-off system replaces the previous system of special twice-yearly collection sites. The new,
permanent site is on East Hoffmeister in Lemay,
but you must schedule an appointment to drop off materials. Here is the Website address for this program, with location details and information on how to schedule your drop-off:
http://www.hhwstl.com/.NEVER IN TRASH BAGS: Paint cans with liquid paint in them of any kind should NEVER be placed inside your trash bags for regular collection. Our sanitation workers are getting paint all over themselves, all over the trucks, and all over your streets when the bags break and the paint spills. Residents have filed complaints about paint spills on Kirkwood streets, but when a can full of liquid paint is placed inside an opaque trash bag, our workers will not see it until it breaks.
Please help us with this. If you need to dispose of paint, harden it first. If you have liquid paint that has not been hardened, schedule a drop-off with St. Louis County. Thank you.