Illinois Paint Recycling Program – now available in Illinois
Illinois households and businesses are now able to recycle leftover paint for free, thanks to a new state law signed by Governor J. B. Pritzker. The program, managed by PaintCare, will feature hundreds of convenient drop-off locations across the state.
What You Need to Know:
- Start Date: December 1, 2025
- Who Can Participate: Residents and businesses
- Cost: Free – funded through new paint purchases
- Impact: Over 1 million gallons of paint managed each year
Why It Matters:
- Keeps paint out of landfills
- Creates recycling jobs
- Reduces local government waste costs
Illinois joins 11 states and D.C. with this successful paint recycling model.
Convenient Paint Drop-Off Sites
In Illinois, PaintCare will offer convenient year-round drop-off sites where anyone can take leftover paint for recycling.
Contractors appreciate being able to clear out old paint and direct customers to do the same.
Most sites accept up to 5 gallons per visit—just call ahead to confirm volume limits and business drop-offs.
A tool for finding drop off sites in Illinois is now available.
Pickup Service for Large Volumes
Painting contractors with at least 100 gallons of leftover
paint to recycle may qualify to have their paint picked up by
PaintCare for free. To learn more about this service or to
request an appointment, visit the PaintCare website or
call (855) PAINT09.
Get Started:
- PaintCare – Find a Drop-Off Location
- PaintCare – Understand the PaintCare Fee
- PaintCare – What Products are accepted
- PaintCare – Large Volume Pickup Service – free for 100+ gallons
- PaintCare – Information for Painting Contractors-detailed
- PaintCare – Information for Painting Contractors – quick facts
- PaintCare – Download the list of registered brands for specific products that may be recycled.
