Tyler, TX

Paint Recycles Day

November 15, 2025 

Paint Recycles Day is a paint collection event hosted by Keep Tyler Beautiful and the City of Tyler Solid Wate Department every two years.Thank you to everyone who participated in this event! If you missed Paint Recycles Day or would like more information about how to properly store and dispose of paint, check out our info below.

For more information or to be involved at the next event, you can call (903) 531-1335 or email KTyB@tylertexas.com.

How to Store and Dispose of Paint Properly

EPA considers some leftover household products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic as household hazardous waste. Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides can contain hazardous ingredients and require special care when you dispose of them.

Paint Storage

Seal it

Seal the paint can properly before you put it away to keep the paint from drying up. If any paint has gotten in the grooves of the paint can, wipe it with a clean rag. Use a rubber mallet to tap the lid down securely. Don’t use a hammer because it can dent the lid, making it more difficult to securely seal the can. If you don’t have a mallet, you can cover the can with a piece of wood and then hammer the lid closed.

Location

Store paint in a cool, dark location, like a basement. If you do store it in the basement, make sure that it’s on a shelf. Moisture from floors can rust your paint cans. If you don’t have a basement, place cans in a cabinet or closet in your house. Extreme hot or cold temperatures can ruin paint. Cold weather can cause latex paint to separate, making it unusable. Heat, on the other hand, can dry it out. The combination of very hot temperatures and oil-based paint can even trigger a fire.

 

Storing paint in the garage is generally not a good idea, especially if you live in a climate with extreme weather conditions. When paint goes through repeated cycles of freezing and thawing, it can become lumpy. If this happens, it’s best to simply dispose of the lumpy paint and replace it with new paint.

Save Space

• If you have cans that are half or almost empty, transfer the remaining paint into quart cans or large jars.
• Use labels and a marker to list the brand, paint name, date of purchase, mixture number and the room you painted.
• Place a small dollop of paint on the top or side of the can so you can easily identify the color. If you have more than one color for a room, such as wall color and trim, keep them together.

Reopening a Can

Opening a paint can after it’s been sealed for a long time can be difficult. Avoid using a screwdriver to open it. The lid can become warped, and it’ll be difficult to seal in the future. Use a key that’s specially designed for opening paint cans.

Latex or water-based paint typically has an unopened shelf life of 10 years. Solvent or oil-based paint can last up to 15 years unopened. If paint has been opened, it can last up to 5 years, if stored properly. You can test the paint to see if it’s still good by doing the following:

• Latex Paint: First, smell it. If it smells rancid, it’s gone bad. Second, check to see if the paint is separated. There will usually be a thin skin on top with a layer of liquid underneath. Remove the skin and use a paint stick to stir the paint. Make sure that the paint isn’t hard on the bottom or the sides. If the paint blends together smoothly and appears to be the original color, then it can be used. If you’re still unsure, brush some of the paint onto a piece of newspaper. If the paint comes out rough and lumpy, you need to dispose of it.

• Oil-Based Paint: If the paint hasn’t been exposed to extreme temperatures and was sealed properly, then it typically isn’t as susceptible as latex is to going bad. Just remove the layer of film across the top and stir it well before painting.

Paint Disposal

Paint can be toxic and dangerous to the environment if it’s not disposed of properly. If you have the space to store your paint until our next paint collection event or take your paint to a disposal facility. You can search for facilities online, as of May 2023, there are no paint disposal facilities in the Tyler Area. If the paint is still usable, consider donating to your paint to a community center, charity, place of worship, local theater or Habitat for Humanity ReStore. If you are unable to wait, donate or take to a facility, follow the general steps, listed below, for disposing latex and oil-based paint that you no longer need.

Latex Paint

1. Dry it Out
   • If you have a small amount of paint, it can be set out or poured onto used carboard or plastic and dried out in the sun. Make sure that it’s in a location where small children or pets can’t get to it.
   • If you have more than half a can, pour an equal amount of cat litter or other drying agent into the can or both the paint and drying agent into a leak-proof box.
2. Allow Mixture to Set
   • Stire the drying agent into the paint until well combines and allow the mixture to dry. Drying times may vary, but it should take at least one hour. 
3. Throw it in the Garbage
   • Once fully dried, throw the paint and can into the garbage. be sure to remove the lid before throwing it away. 

Oil-Based Paint

Oil-based paint is considered hazardous waste and must be taken to an appropriate disposal or drop-off center.

Resources

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) | US EPA

You can contact us at ktyb@tylertexas.com to be added to the newsletter or download the Tyler Talks Trash App for info on schedules. 

Project Daffodil 2025

Keep Tyler Beautiful is hosting its annual Daffodil bulbs sale once again this fall. The online sale opens August 1 and will run through September 26 with order pickup in October. The bulbs are sold in individual fifty-count bags. Proceeds from this fundraiser go to benefit Keep Tyler Beautiful programs and events.

KTyB will also be selling bulk Texas Wildflower seed mixes again this year in half pound and one-pound quantities. Individuals interested in pre-ordering or donating bags of either daffodils or wildflower seed can order online starting August 2. All donated bags will be kept for KTyB staff and volunteers to plant around the City of Tyler. Order at KTyBProjectDaffodil2025.eventbrite.com.

 

Pricing

Items	Price
Daffodil Bulbs, 50 ct. bag of Carlton yellow	$25
Wildflower Seeds, 1/2 lb. bag	$30
Wildflower Seed, 1 lb. bag	$40

 

Order Pickup Information

Orders will be available to pick up on October 24 at the Rose Garden Center.

For more information, you can visit our website at www.KeepTylerBeautiful.com or e-mail Casey Williams, Keep Tyler Beautiful Community Coordinator, at ktyb@tylertexas.com.

Planting & Care Guide

Daffodils, Carlton Variety

Rich of a strong vanilla scent, multiple award-winning Narcissus 'Carlton' is an exquisite, solid golden-yellow daffodil featuring very large flowers, 5 in. across (12 cm), adorned with wide, gracefully frilled cups and broad, overlapping petals. Blooming in mid spring, this highly popular Large-Cupped Daffodil is a strong performer of immense vigor, and one of the best perennializers. It is famously reliable for large scale plantings. This variety of daffodils is often one of the first blooms of the spring.

• Sun: Full Sun 
• Soil: Well-draining
• Zone: 3-8
• Planting Width: 3-6 in.
• Planting Depth: 4-6 in.

Planting

Plan to plant your bulbs before the first hard freeze. We recommend before Thanksgiving at the latest. If you aren't able to plant your bulbs in the ground before the end of November, daffodil bulbs can be planted in wide, shallow containers to over-winter in a greenhouse. Follow these steps to plant your daffodil bulbs:

• To encourage larger blooms, bulb fertilizer can be added when planting. Plant bulbs 3-6 inches apart with the top up and roots down.
• Bulbs can be planted in individual holes or trenches of 3-8 at a time. Dig hole to depth of 4-6 inches depending on the size of the bulb, allowing for at least 2 inches of soil covering bulbs.
• Cover the bulbs and water well immediately after planting. Bulbs do not need to be watered durign the winter. 
• Mark and avoid disturbing the planting area. 

Care

• During the spring, water regularly to keep the soil moist, until roughly three weeks after blooming time. Avoid over-watering as it may cause bulb rot. 
• Avoid cutting too many flowers during bloom time, as this may affect the bulb growth in future years. 
• Let blooms fully wilt before pruning. Only remove foliage once it has dried up. Traditionally pruning should occur in late May or early June.

Wildflowers, Perennial Texas Seed Mix

Planting

• Choose a site with full sun and well-draining soil. Avoid rich soil and tilling, which can encourage weeds. 
• Sow your seeds in the fall, using rough 1/4 lb. of seeds per 500 sq. ft. Scatter them evenly and cover them lightly with soil. Water well. 

Care

• Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate. Water regularly during dry periods. Weed out any unwanted plants. 

2026 Recycled Art Contest 

The Annual Recycled Art Contest is back! We will be accepting artwork from artists of all ages in the Tyler area until March 16, 2026. This year's theme "Happy Birthday, America!" celebrates the beauty of nature and Keep Tyler Beautiful's mission to protect the natural environment of East Texas. 

Winners and selected entries will be displayed in a special exhibit to be announced later this year. Artists will be responsible for delivering and picking up their artwork for the contest.

1st - 3rd place winners will receive prizes to be announced and a certificate at an awards ceremony at the Great Tyler Cleanup on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

2026 Contest Rules

2026 Recycled Art Contest Details

Recycled Art Contest 2026 - Contest Rules & Entry Form

Keep Tyler Beautiful is sponsoring a Recycled Art Contest themed “Happy Birthday, America!” The contest is open to all Tyler Area students and adults, with two separate judging categories.

• Individuals, not groups, must complete entries, and each person is limited to one entry.
• The artist's name may not be visible on the front of the artwork.
• Complete the submission entry form here to be eligible.
• Take multiple, clear pictures of the artwork and submit with the entry form to ktyb@tylertexas.com.
• If the artwork is a sculpture or features a 3D element, please submit at least three photographs of the artwork from multiple angles.
• Pictures and the entry form must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026.

Select members of Keep Tyler Beautiful and the City of Tyler Parks and Recreation Department will judge artwork. The top three (3) winners in each category will be recognized with their artwork displayed at the Great Tyler Cleanup on April 11, 2026, where they will receive a prize to be announced. Winners will be notified through the email provided on the entry form.

2026 Artwork Specifications

This year’s theme is “Happy Birthday, America.” Artwork celebrating America’s 250th birthday or incorporating patriotic birthday elements will earn extra points. Please use only art materials and recycled materials for your artworks. Don’t include items such as food waste or hazardous material. (Purchasing items for use is discouraged. - We want to see your resourcefulness and creativity.)

Artwork must not exceed 15”x 15” x 25”.

3D Artwork must be freestanding.

Artwork must be free of any vulgar, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate words, phrases, or imagery.

 

2026 Judging Criteria

25% - Use of theme

25% - Overall presentation and aesthetic

50% - Creative use of recycled materials

Past Winners

2023 Recycled Art Contest Winners

• Sophia Murillo-Mize - 1st Place, Adult Category
• Fran Cooper - 2nd Place, Adult Category
• Susannah McKinney - 3rd Place, Adult Category

• Kalan Rae Maple - 1st Place, Student Category
• Hunter Watts - 2nd Place, Student Category
• Hannah Flens - 3rd Place, Student Category
• Baylie Brauher - Honorable Mention

2022 Recycled Art Contest Winners

• Michael Broyles - 1st Place, Adult Category
• Christy Fowler - 2nd Place, Adult Category
• Tena Jerger - 3rd Place, Adult Category
• Briana Chappel - 1st Place, Student Category
• Nora Quetz - 2nd Place, Student Category
• Benjamin Phillips - 3rd Place, Student Category

Since 1995, Keep Tyler Beautiful has been encouraging beautification, waste reduction and recycling activities in the community. Sustainability and the "reduce, reuse, recycle" mantra are a large part of how KTyB functions.