Brush Cleaners: Disposal technique depends on the main ingredient. Read the label. Solvent based cleaners - settle particles and reuse liquid as described for paint thinners. Dry out & solidify remaining sludge by evaporation and discard in trash. Containing TSP (trisodium phosphate) - detergent. Flush down toilet or washtub with plenty of water.

Glues and Other Adhesives: Disposal technique depends on the main ingredient. Read the label. Solvent-based glues - share or evaporate. Evaporation instructions are described above in the General Information section. Because they are flammable, do not dispose of in the trash or down the drain. And, if you evaporate solvent-based glues, keep them from open flames. Water-based glues - share or flush down a home drain with plenty of water.
Paint thinner, turpentine, mineral spirits: Settle particles and reuse liquid. FLAMMABLE - do not dispose of in trash or down drain. Reuse thinners by allowing particles to settle in a closed container. Transfer the clear thinner to a safe container for reuse. For example, transfer to an old paint thinner can with a lid. Clearly label all storage containers. Never use a discarded food container for household chemicals. Using old coffee cans to soak paint brushes in thinner is a reasonable exception to this policy. Dry out or solidify the remaining sludge by evaporation. Wrap the solidified sludge in newspaper or plastic and dispose of it in the regular trash.

Special Paints: Solidify by evaporation and save for a household hazardous waste collection program. Lead-based paint - paint manufactured for residential use before 1978 and paint used for farm and marine equipment today may contain lead - look for the word 'lead' on the can label. Or, if the label is missing, judge by weight against a can of water-based paint. Lead paint is substantially heavier. For safe disposal, evaporate the liquid using the recommendations described previously, wrap the solid in plastic and save for disposal in a household hazardous waste collection program. Artist paints - Many artists' oils and acrylics contain metals which are hazardous to health. SAVE paints that include the following pigments for a hazardous waste collection program: Antimony white, barium yellow, burnt umber, cadmium yellows, oranges & reds, chrome yellow, orange & green, cobalt violet (cobalt arsenate), emerald green or Paris green, flake white, mixed white or lead white, lemon yellow, manganese blue & violet, molybdate orange, Naples yellow, Thalo blues and greens, raw umber, Scheele's green, strontium yellow, vermillion, and zinc yellow. Paints not listed may be evaporated and thrown away.

Paint or Varnish Stripper: Read label to verify main ingredient. Containging Methylene Chloride - Share small quantities of new product with others, solidify used quantities by evaporation and dispose of solids in regular trash. If these options are not readily available, save for disposal in a household hazardous waste collection program. Containing Lye - flush down toilet or wash tub drain with plenty of water. Rinse container and pour rinse water down drain.
Varnish, shellac, wood oils and stains: Share unused quantities if possible. use evaporation only to solidify very small quantities. For recycling or evaporation instructions, follow recommendations for leftover paint described earlier on this page. FLAMMABLE - do not dispose of in trash or down drain.
Wood preservatives: The main ingredient will determine disposal method. Check the bale. Metal based (such as copper or zinc naphthenate): Use up, share or save for household hazardous waste collection program. Human and environmental impact of these preservatives is not fully understood, but the product should be treated as a pesticide; in other words, as a hazard to human and environmental health. Pentachlorophenol (PCP or penta) - do not use. Avoid all exposure. Do not attempt to dispose. PCP presents severe human and environmental health hazards. At present there is not acceptable means of disposal. If you have some of this product, package it carefully to prevent spills and save for an EPA-sponsored PCP collection program. Preservatives containing pentachlorophenol are contaminated with a form of dioxin. This form of dioxin is suspected of causing some cancers and birth defects. If you have this product, please call your local department of health and add your name to a disposal notification list or ask them to start such a list.