What happens if you put Dried-out paint and empty tins in the wrong bin?

Never harden solvent-based paint and bin it — the solvent evaporates into the room and the residue is still hazardous waste. Never dry paint out indoors in an unventilated space.

Where do Dried-out paint and empty tins go?

Once the paint is solid, many councils take the tin in general waste or as scrap metal. Check yours, because this one genuinely varies.

General waste bin

The objection to paint is that it is liquid, so hardening it removes most of the objection. Water-based paint can be dried by leaving the lid off outdoors, or faster by stirring in sawdust, sand, cat litter or a proprietary paint hardener until it will not move. A completely dry tin then goes in general waste in many areas, and clean empty metal tins go in the scrap metal skip at the household waste centre. Solvent-based paint is not dealt with this way and stays hazardous waste however dry it looks, and some authorities refuse hardened paint too — so this is the entry to check locally before acting.

How to prepare it

Stir in sawdust, cat litter or paint hardener until the surface will not dent.
Leave the lid off until it is solid all the way through, not just skinned over.
Take clean empty metal tins to the scrap metal skip.

What not to do

Never harden solvent-based paint and bin it — the solvent evaporates into the room and the residue is still hazardous waste.
Never dry paint out indoors in an unventilated space.

Kerbside collection rules genuinely vary by council and county, and local rules always win over general guidance. The reasoning above is what transfers — if your service differs, it will usually be for a reason described here.

Other things that go to general waste bin

Used cooking oil Let it cool, seal it in a container, and put it in general waste — or take it to an oil bank.
Polystyrene and foam packaging General waste almost everywhere. It is recyclable in principle and collected almost nowhere.
Incandescent and halogen bulbs General waste, wrapped. They are not recyclable glass and not electrical waste either.
Crisp packets and snack wrappers General waste, or a supermarket soft-plastics bin where one exists. Not the kerbside recycling.
Broken glass Wrap it thickly and put it in general waste, unless it is a broken bottle or jar — those can go in the glass bin.
Cling film General waste. It is excluded even from soft plastic collections almost everywhere.
Till receipts General waste. Thermal paper is coated, not printed, and it should not go in with paper or compost.
Wet wipes and makeup wipes General waste. Never the toilet, whatever the packet says about flushability.
Dog waste Bagged in general waste, or a dog waste bin. Not the food waste caddy, and not the compost heap.
Nappies General waste, bagged. There is no kerbside recycling route for them anywhere in ordinary use.
Cat litter General waste, bagged. Clay litter is not compostable, and cat faeces carry a parasite that keeps it out of the garden.
Medicine blister packs General waste in most places, or a pharmacy collection scheme where one exists.
Greetings cards with glitter or foil Tear off the plain card and recycle that; the glittery part goes in general waste.
Cigarette butts Put it out completely, then bin it. Filters are cellulose acetate plastic, and a live butt starts bin fires.

Common questions

Where do Dried-out paint and empty tins go?: Once the paint is solid, many councils take the tin in general waste or as scrap metal. Check yours, because this one genuinely varies.
What happens if you put Dried-out paint and empty tins in the wrong bin?: Never harden solvent-based paint and bin it — the solvent evaporates into the room and the residue is still hazardous waste. Never dry paint out indoors in an unventilated space.

Where do Used cooking oil go? Let it cool, seal it in a container, and put it in general waste — or take it to an oil bank.
Where do Polystyrene and foam packaging go? General waste almost everywhere. It is recyclable in principle and collected almost nowhere.
Where do Incandescent and halogen bulbs go? General waste, wrapped. They are not recyclable glass and not electrical waste either.
Where do Crisp packets and snack wrappers go? General waste, or a supermarket soft-plastics bin where one exists. Not the kerbside recycling.
Where do Broken glass go? Wrap it thickly and put it in general waste, unless it is a broken bottle or jar — those can go in the glass bin.
Where do Cling film go? General waste. It is excluded even from soft plastic collections almost everywhere.
Where do Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
Where do Lithium-ion batteries go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
Where do Vapes and disposable e-cigarettes go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
Where do Medicines and tablets go? Pharmacy
Where do Pizza boxes go? Kerbside recycling bin
Where do Leftover wet paint go? Household waste recycling centre

Sources

US Environmental Protection Agency — EPA (Public domain (US Government))

How these figures are compiled and checked