Oil-based paint is assessed as “household hazardous waste.”

When it involves family waste, tossing a leftover paint can within the rubbish may appear innocent. But one sanitation employee’s TikTok video exhibits why that’s a expensive mistake. After an improperly discarded can of vibrant blue home paint exploded inside his rubbish truck, gallons of “garbage juice” dyed the road, creating a large mess and a lesson in correct paint disposal.

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Nicholas wrote, “This is WHY we don’t throw paint cans away!!!”

Nicholas’ Aug 19. 2025, submit went viral with 5.9 million views. Blue Man Group and Tobias Fünke quips however, commenters had been appalled and fascinated by what waste collectors should take care of.

“I feel like this happens all over the world all the time. We just don’t hear about it.”

Painting the city blue—actually 

“Oh my goodness,” Nicholas reacted to the waterfall of blue paint spilling from the rubbish truck. His fellow employees laughed and shook their heads on the river of blue paint spreading down the alley. 

Nicholas likened the colour to the cartoon character Smurfs’ blue pores and skin. “Like we crushed the whole Smurf family,” he wrote.

He assured commenters, “We get it cleaned up pretty quick.”

@jaridnicholas Now ain’t this one thing!#foryou #rubbish #garbageman #garbagetruck #garbagejuice ♬ authentic sound – Jarid Nicholas

Reactions to the paint disposal fail—and a salute to sanitation employees all over the place.

“Ppl throw away paint cans? I thought you just kept it in your garage for your next project that you SWEAR you’re gonna do eventually.”

“I’d be livid if that spilled at my house and I didn’t throw away the paint. (Not blaming the garbage man).”

“Blue collar to blue collar i respect the heel out of you guys. you’re the backbone to every city, county, parish, ward across the country. if you guys stop the country stops. no one i respect more than the garbage men and plumbers but you guys are easily #1.”

How to correctly eliminate paint cans

Show appreciation and respect for the individuals who hold all of it working by observing easy tips for waste disposal: Determine whether or not the discarded paint is latex (water-based) or oil-based. 

After the paint dries and hardens, dispose cans of latex paint within the family rubbish. Sanitation execs advocate setting almost empty paint cans out within the solar to allow them to dry out. If a major quantity of paint stays within the can, combine it with sawdust, cat litter, or paint hardener earlier than placing it out with the trash.

Oil-based paint is assessed as “household hazardous waste.” Take it to an allotted assortment website or drop-off location for disposal. Check along with your metropolis or county’s waste assortment company to seek out native assets for disposing of family hazardous waste. 

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