The present invention includes a composition having detackifying and detoxifying properties such that the composition is useful for detackifying and detoxifying paint particles in spray booth water and for treating a paint booth dry filter to render the filter fire retardant, non-combustible and non-hazardous to enable disposal of a used dry filter in a standard landfill. The present invention also includes a method for the detackification and detoxification of oversprayed paint in a paint spray booth system wherein said oversprayed paint comes into contact with water of a waste water system.