Paint, chemicals
Paint is the easy one: seven hardware and paint stores in DC take up to five gallons free, latex or oil, sealed with the label on. Full cans in good shape go to Community Forklift instead, where someone will use them. Everything else, thinners, pesticides, pool chemicals, propane, aerosols, goes only to the city's collection day at RFK, a few times a quarter, registration first. Fort Totten takes none of it, and old DPW pages that say otherwise are wrong.
Last verified October 2026
Updated Friday, October 30, 2026 · real listings, pulled from 130+ sources and reviewed by a person.
Drop it off · 2
This is now the ONLY city route for HHW and electronics — there is no walk-in drop-off anymore.
free · You bring it · Must pre-register on Eventbrite · Hazardous-waste processing · Last verified October 2026
- Where
- RFK Stadium parking lots: Lot 8 at 2500 Independence Ave SE or Lot 3 at 2400 E Capitol St NE (varies by date)
- When
- Roughly twice per quarter: one Thursday 10am–2pm and one Saturday 8am–2pm. 2026 dates: Feb 5, Mar 14, Apr 30, May 2, Aug 27, Sep 12, Sep 24, Oct 22; next is Sat Nov 14, 2026 at RFK Lot 3. No entry after 2pm.
Up to 5 gallons per visit (some sites more) — call first. The catch: Not accepted auto/marine paint, art/craft paint.
free · You bring it · none · Recycled · Last verified October 2026
- Where
- McCormick Paints 3124 Mount Pleasant St NW (W1); Sherwin-Williams Commercial 2511 14th St NW (W1); Sherwin-Williams 2332 Wisconsin Ave NW (W3); W.S. Jenks & Son 910 Bladensburg Rd NE (W5); Annie's Ace Hardware 3405 8th St NE (W5); Sherwin-Williams Commercial 1120 3rd St NE (W6); Frager's Hardware 1115 Pennsylvania Ave SE (W6)
- When
- Store hours — call ahead; year-round
Charity · 1
Community Forklift
★ 4.4 on Google (521)Best answer for building materials, full cans of paint, cabinets, doors, windows, tile, lumber (nail-free), tools, working appliances incl. fridges, stoves, washers, dryers, ACs, radiators.
free · They come to you · Pickup form answered in 3–5 business… · Resold · Last verified October 2026
- Drop-off
- 4671 Tanglewood Dr, Edmonston, MD 20781 Map
- When
- Open 7 days; drop-off roughly 9–6 daily (brochure says 9–6:30; another listing says to 7 on Wed/Fri) — drop off at least 30 min before close
Who refuses paint, chemicals
- 311 bulk pickup — NOT accepted: electronics/TVs, hazardous/liquids, construction debris, drywall, bricks, dirt, pallets, tree stumps, broken bins, bagged trash.
- Fort Totten — NO electronics, paint, HHW, tires (per reopened page), construction debris, dirt, concrete, roofing, stumps.
- Scrap metal / large appliances —
- Ward Roll-Off Days — NO hazardous materials, liquid paint, tires, or electronics (some older Roll-Off pages allowed e-cycling — confirm per event).
- Zero Waste DC Food Waste Drop-Off — Pumpkins OK only if undecorated (no paint/glitter).
- Goodwill — Refuses mattresses, box springs, sleeper sofas, air mattresses, bed pillows, bean bags; non-flat-screen TVs; large appliances; building materials, sinks, toilets, blinds; all baby furniture/cribs/strollers/car seats/high chairs; hazardous materials/paint; rags; anything wet or moldy; gas-powered tools; medical supplies; cosmetics; food.
- Salvation Army — Refuses gas appliances, built-ins, appliances with missing cords/rust, console TVs, TVs over 5 years old, auto parts, paint/chemicals, kerosene/gas heaters.
- SOME — REFUSES furniture, exercise equipment, TVs/radios, large appliances, computers/electronics, used Tupperware, decor, books/magazines, DVDs/CDs, games/puzzles, strollers/car seats/cribs, toys, jewelry, paint/chemicals, tools, plants, sporting goods, bikes/scooters, wheelchairs/walkers, medical equipment, pet items.
- Buy Nothing / Freecycle DC — Only route that reliably moves things charities refuse: mattresses, used cribs/car seats, half-used paint, particleboard furniture, broken-but-fixable electronics, pet gear.
- 1-800-GOT-JUNK? — Volume pricing for 2+ items; no dollar minimum published; "difficult access / several flights of stairs" can add cost; no hazardous waste; company claims it donates/recycles "anything we can" but publishes NO diversion percentage — unverifiable.
- JUSTJUNK — Price includes labor/hauling/disposal; no hazardous waste.
- Lugg — No hazardous (paint, batteries, propane).
- Home Depot NE Washington — No paint, no propane take-back.
Other things to get rid of
Baby and kids' gear · Batteries, bulbs · Bike · Books · Clothes, shoes, linens · Computer, tablet · Doors, tile, lumber · Fridge, stove, AC · Mattress · Medication · Papers to shred · Phone · Records, instruments · Sofa, chairs, table, dresser · Sports gear · Toys · TV