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Where to get rid of paint near Bakersfield, CA

We found 4 open or status-unknown disposal sites within 50 miles of Bakersfield, and 4 of them have rules we checked against an official website. 3 list paint as accepted; the closest is Bakersfield Metropolitan SLF (BENA), about 16 miles away.

Nearest sites and what they say about paint

  • Bakersfield Metropolitan SLF (BENA) · 15.8 mi · Edison, CA Verified
    Listed as accepted

    Posted rule: “Household trash, appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters), furniture and mattresses, electronics, green waste, construction/demolition, tires, treated wood, dead animals, used motor oil, residential batteries and paint”

  • Shafter-Wasco SLF · 23.6 mi · Shafter, CA Verified
    Listed as accepted

    Posted rule: “Household trash, appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters), furniture and mattresses, electronics, green waste, construction/demolition, tires, treated wood, dead animals, used motor oil, residential batteries and paint”

  • Taft SLF · 25.6 mi · Taft, CA Verified
    Listed as accepted

    Posted rule: “Household trash, appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters), furniture and mattresses, electronics, green waste, construction/demolition, tires, treated wood, dead animals, used motor oil, residential batteries and paint”

  • Tehachapi SLF · 42.4 mi · Tehachapi, CA Verified
    Verified site, but its posted rules don't mention paint – call to confirm

Distances are straight-line from the center of Bakersfield. “Listed as accepted” means the site’s official page mentions it; we quote the exact wording. We never guess for sites we haven’t checked.

Don't want to haul it yourself? Get a junk removal quote

Junk removal crews load and dispose of it for you, usually priced by how much of the truck you fill.

Tip: get two or three quotes from local junk removal companies, and ask whether the price includes the dump fee and labor.

General tips for paint

Latex (water-based) and oil-based paint are handled differently. Oil-based paint, stains and paint thinner are household hazardous waste: take them to a household hazardous waste (HHW) drop-off or collection event, not the regular trash. Many communities allow latex paint in the trash once it is completely dried out (open the can to air-dry, or mix in kitty litter or paint hardener), but some ban liquid paint of any kind from landfills. Check your local rule.

Other options. States with paint stewardship laws have free PaintCare drop-off sites, often at paint and hardware stores; see PaintCare for participating states and locations. Usable leftover paint can go to a reuse store or community swap.

Before you go. Ask whether the landfill has an HHW area, its days and hours (often limited), and any residency or quantity limits.

More: Paint disposal guide · All dumps near Bakersfield · Dump cost calculator