Paint Recycling and Safe Disposal
Paint Stewardship Program
Illinois has a new program for recycling of house paint and other coatings designed for home use.
It is free to drop off paint for recycling at participating locations. To find the location closest to you, visit
PaintCare's website and plug in your zip code. Generally speaking, Sherwin-Williams and JC Licht Paint & Decor locations are collections sites for paint in and near Kane County. See full list below.
What Paints and Coatings Are Accepted?
The Illinois Paint Stewardship Program is for products that fall in the category of "architectural coatings," which means
paint and other coatings designed to be used on residential and commercial buildings. The program drop-off locations will accept house paint (all formulations), primers and undercoats, deck stains and sealants, floor paints, shellacs, varnishes and urethanes, metal coatings/rust preventatives, concrete/masonry sealants and waterproofing materials, and lawn or field paints. Businesses can use the drop-off locations, but anyone with more than 100 gallons of accepted material should
work with PaintCare to arrange a collection.
Quantity Limits
Locations generally accept up to 5 gallons of material per visitor per day.
Preparing Cans of Material for Drop-Off
It is recommended to call ahead to drop-off locations to double check acceptance and store hours. Generally speaking, make sure there is liquid product in all cans being dropped off, and that the lids are tightly sealed. Cans with dried out paints/finishes can be put in regular trash, while empty metal cans can be recycled.
What Paints and Coatings Are Not Accepted?
The program does not include spray paint (Kane County Recycling Center or HHW), any wood preservatives containing pesticide (HHW), coal-tar or asphalt based sealants, any paint designed for use on surfaces other than residential or commercial buildings (including but not limited to automotive paint, fine art and craft paint, nail polish, marine paint), caulking products, glues and adhesives, roof patching products, paint thinners and solvents (HHW), road marking paint, deck and masonry cleaners, industrial maintenance products.
Drop-offs in and near Kane County (North to South)
PaintCare's online listing is the most up-to-date source of drop-off locations. At program launch (December 2025), the following locations were participating:
- Sherwin-Williams, 120 N. Randall Rd., Lake-in-the-Hills, 847-658-1459
- JC Licht Paint & Decor, 1700 E. Algonquin Rd., Algonquin, 847-658-3622
- Sherwin-Williams, 12820 S. Rt. 47, Huntley, 847-669-3066
- Sherwin-Williams, 1310 Dundee Ave., Elgin, 847-695-4544
- JC Licht Paint & Decor, 1326 W. Spring St., South Elgin, 847-695-0800
- Sherwin-Williams, 799 Rt. 59, Bartlett, 630-372-8534
- Sherwin-Williams, 466 S. Randall Rd., South Elgin, 847-888-0035
- Sherwin-Williams, 2406 W. Main St., St. Charles, 630-444-1425
- JC Licht Paint & Decor, 716 W. State St., Geneva, 630-232-7838
- Sherwin-Williams, 33W365 Rt. 38, West Chicago, 630-232-0220
- Sherwin-Williams, 1891 Orchard Gateway Blvd., North Aurora, 630-907-4557
- Sherwin-Williams, 473 Rt. 59, Aurora, 630-978-3765
- JC Licht Paint & Decor, 3450 Montgomery Rd., Aurora, 630-375-9819
- Sherwin-Williams Commercial, 150 Kendall Point Dr., Oswego, 630-499-7412
- Sherwin-Williams, 2834 U.S. 34, Oswego, 331-216-6667
- Sherwin-Williams, 2251 Orchard Rd., Oswego, 630-551-7635
Frequently Asked Questions about the Paint Stewardship Program:
How is the program funded? Do I have to pay a recycling fee?
The program will be funded by a fee of less than $1 per gallon applied to new cans of paint sold in Illinois after December 1, 2025. There is no fee to drop paint off at participating locations for recycling.
I have paint that I bought before the program started in 2025 - can I still recycle it?
Yes - all material covered by the program is accepted for recycling, regardless of when it was purchased.
Tips for Reducing Paint Waste
Buy Only What's Needed
The best way to reduce waste is by buying only the amount of paint needed for a project. Measure the surface area of walls or other areas receiving paint. Once the total square footage is known, divide by 400 square feet per gallon to find the approximate number of gallons needed to complete one coat. Two coats are usually sufficient for painting over a light shade of existing paint or over primer. Painting fresh drywall or covering a dark shade with a lighter one may require additional coats.
Reuse
Save left-over paint for touch-ups by transferring it to a smaller container (unless the can is more then half full - then it can be sealed up for storage without transferring), cleaning the can and lid rims and sealing the lid firmly. Store in a climate-controlled area (e.g., in a basement, closet or utility room instead of an unheated garage). Paint may need to be re-agitated before use.
See this page for some lighthearted tips on successful paint storage.
Add an extra coat to your project or paint something else to avoid having left-over paint.
Find a friend or neighbor who needs to paint a small area.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations may take unopened cans of paint for use or resale.
Dried Up Paint Goes in the Trash
Dried up latex paint can be disposed of in regular household trash. Place one or two cans per week in trash, with the lids off.
Recycling Spray Paint
We are lucky in Kane County to have a local partner in Flat Can Recycling to recycle aerosol products including spray paint (full or empty) at our events and through the Kane County Recycling Centers in Batavia.The cost to recycle is $1.00 per can.
Spray paint can also be disposed of through HHW programs.
