How to Dispose of Waste Paint Cans

I. Differentiate by Paint Type and Dispose of Them Separately

Oil-based/Solvent-based Paint Cans: If there is any residual solvent odor or paint residue on the inner wall, they are considered hazardous waste and must not be mixed with ordinary household waste. They cannot be disposed of arbitrarily.

Water-based Paint Cans: If thoroughly cleaned and free of residue and odor, they can be disposed of as ordinary recyclables and placed in the community's recycling bins.

II. Different Disposal Plans for Different Usage Amounts

👉 Small Amounts of Waste Cans from Households/Individuals

Pre-treatment: Leave the can open in a ventilated area to allow residual paint to air dry naturally. Then seal the can and place it in the designated hazardous waste bins in the community for collection and disposal by the sanitation department.

If the community does not have a designated disposal point, consult your property management or the local sanitation department in Wuxi to find the nearest hazardous waste collection point for centralized disposal.

DIY Reuse: After thorough cleaning, paint can be repurposed into storage containers or flower pots. However, it is strictly forbidden to use modified paint cans to hold food to avoid chemical residue poisoning.

👉 Large quantities of discarded paint cans from businesses/merchants (including auto repair and renovation companies in Wuxi)

According to official Wuxi requirements, the following disposal regulations must be followed:

Clearly classify and store the waste: Establish dedicated hazardous waste storage sites, ensure containers are sealed and affixed with compliant hazardous waste labels, install 24-hour video surveillance, and implement measures to prevent wind, seepage, and leakage.

Disposal must be entrusted to units holding a hazardous waste operation license. Providing disposal to unqualified individuals or institutions is prohibited, as is indiscriminate dumping.

Before transfer, an electronic transfer form must be completed through the Jiangsu Provincial Solid Waste Management Information System, ensuring standardized transfer throughout the process.

Compliant licensed disposal units throughout the city can be found on the Wuxi Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment's Solid Waste Environmental Management section; choose a partner independently.

III. Resource Recycling Methods

If the discarded paint cans are relatively clean, they can be handed over to qualified resource recycling companies for professional cleaning and return to the original production unit for reuse, or crushed and processed into metal granules for secondary utilization.