New South Wales · Sydney
Paint and chemical disposal in Sydney
In New South Wales, paint and household chemicals never go in a kerbside bin or down a drain. Leftover paint goes free to Paintback or to one of the 100-plus Community Recycling Centres. Household cleaners, pool and hobby chemicals and pesticides need a Household Chemical CleanOut event instead, which is mobile and runs on set dates.
Sources NSW EPA: Community Recycling CentresNSW EPA: find CRCs or Chemical CleanOutsPaintback: find a drop-off location
What do I do with paint & chemicals in NSW?
- Leftover paint in the tin Paintback collects paint and its packaging at drop-off sites nationally, generally up to 20 litres per container. Free for households.
- Water-based paint you want gone now Leave the lid off in a safe spot until it dries solid, then the hardened tin goes in general waste in most councils.
- Solvents, pool chemicals, pesticides A household hazardous waste program or permanent drop-off. Never mix containers.
Community Recycling Centres and Household Chemical CleanOut: more than 100 permanent free drop-offs for paint, oils, batteries, gas bottles, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and fluoro tubes, plus mobile CleanOut events on set dates for household chemicals.
Nearest drop-off: Find CRCs or Chemical CleanOuts (NSW EPA)
Where can I take old paint in NSW?
Two free routes. Paintback takes paint and its packaging at drop-off points across Australia, up to 100 litres a visit in containers of up to 20 litres each, and has an address-based finder at paintback.com.au. Paint is also one of the wastes accepted free at NSW Community Recycling Centres, where the EPA says it is used as an alternative fuel in cement kilns and the tins are recycled.
What is the difference between a Community Recycling Centre and a Chemical CleanOut?
A Community Recycling Centre is a permanent site, open year round and free, taking paint, motor and other oils, household and car batteries, gas bottles, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and fluoro globes and tubes. Household Chemical CleanOut is a mobile service on set dates, and it is the one that takes household cleaners, pool and hobby chemicals and pesticides.
How much can I take to a NSW Community Recycling Centre?
Household quantities only, with a guide of 20 litres or 20 kilograms per waste type per visit. The centres are free and most are open to any NSW resident regardless of where they live, the exceptions being Leichhardt and Cumberland. Businesses cannot use them. Both centres and CleanOut events are listed on the NSW EPA's finder page.
Can I put paint tins in the bin?
Only if the paint inside is water-based and has dried solid. Leave the lid off in a safe, ventilated spot until it hardens, then the tin goes in general waste where your council allows it. Wet paint, oil-based paint and solvents never go in any bin and never down a drain or a stormwater grate.
Need it gone this week?
Compare council collection, recycling and pickup options on the skip bin hire page for Sydney.