Where can I return my used paint?

You can return your used paint to any SARCAN Recycling depot.  For a listing of locations, click here.

What are SARCAN’s hours of operation?

Hours of operation vary across the province.  For a listing of depot hours of operation, click here.

What types of paint can I return to SARCAN?

The paint program includes household paints, excluding industrial, automotive, and craft paints.  For a listing of the paint products you can and cannot return to SARCAN, click here.

Will I get money back when I return my used paint?

No.  You will not get money for the paint products you return to SARCAN.  The paint recycling program is not a deposit-refund system.  Customers do not pay a deposit on the paint container at point of purchase; therefore, customers do not get a refund when returning to the depot.

Are there limits to how much paint I can return in one visit?

Voluntary return limits are:

• 10 paint containers per visit
• 50 aerosol containers per visit
• Maximum size of container is 23 L (5 gallons)

Customers wishing to return more than these amounts are asked to make an appointment with their depot.

How do I return a large volume of paint?

To return a volume larger than the voluntary limits listed above, please book an appointment with the depot you wish to visit.

Can I get paint from SARCAN?

All SARCAN depots have a supply of reusable paint on hand that is available to the public.  Reusing unwanted paint is a cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative to recycling paint.  Use it for buildings, walls, fences, and craft projects and help divert it from our landfills and waterways.

This paint is free of charge, but customers must sign a waiver form before removing it from our depots.  This paint is not inspected and cannot be guaranteed.

Where does the collected paint go?

To see what happens to the paint after it is returned to SARCAN, refer to the Where Does It Go? page.

Where can I recycle my other industrial paint and other household hazardous materials?

There are many collection events across the province for household hazardous wastes such as solvents, batteries, and chemicals.  For a listing of events in your part of the province, contact the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council.

What is Product Care Association?

Product Care is a not-for-profit industry sponsored association that manages product stewardship programs for household hazardous and special waste on behalf of its members across Canada.  Product Care manages the stewardship program in Saskatchewan for used paint and contracts with SARCAN Recycling to collect it.

For more information on Product Care and its membership, visit Product Care’s website.

How is the program funded?

The program is funded by eco-fees paid to Product Care Association by its member companies (which include paint manufacturers, distributors, and retailers).  Each time a consumer purchases a household paint product, he/she is charged a small eco-fee, which is then remitted to Product Care Association.  All eco-fee revenue is applied to the management of the program  The eco-fee is not a tax and not a refundable deposit.  For a listing of eco-fees, visit Product Care’s website.

Why is it important to recycle paint?

It is estimated that about 9 million litres of paint is sold in Saskatchewan each year. On average, 5 to 10 percent of this ends up as waste, which puts our environment at risk if disposed of improperly.  Household paints can contain hazardous components, such as mercury, lead, and other heavy materials.  These paints are combustible as well, so storing them for long periods of time poses a significant health and safety risk.

Household paint is made up of many components that can easily be reused or recycled.  Using SARCAN to recycle your paint gives these products a second life and diverts them from contaminating our ecosystem.