2017-2018 paint stewardship legislation did not move forward and is dead.

HB 1376 concerning paint stewardship, would have created a paint recycling program for Washington's residents and businesses. In 2017, HB 1376 was backed by the American Coatings Association and passed the House Environment Committee and Appropriations Committee but did not move to a floor vote prior to the 2017 session cut-off date. The bill was not taken up again in 2018, the second year of the biennium, despite support from local governments, businesses, and environmental organizations. The legislature has considered but not passed similar legislation since 2012. 

Without a statewide paint recycling solution, as an interim step, King County initiated a for-fee latex paint recycling service partnership with GreenSheen and local stores via the Take it Back Network in early 2018.

Tools for Local Government Support of Paint Stewardship in Washington

The NWPSC created a sample resolution, support letter, and fact sheets for use by local governments. These Word documents can be customized for use by your local government or jurisdiction:

• sample Resolution in Support (Word) of paint stewardship (local governments in King County version)
• Why We Need a Paint Stewardship Law in Washington State (PDF)
• Comparing Paint Management in Washington and Oregon (PDF)
• Summary of Paint Hazards (PDF)
• How Does the Paint Assessment Work? (PDF)
• Management of Unwanted Architectural Paint in Washington (PDF) new report which describes Washington's current paint collection and recycling programs and projects what a product stewardship system would look like if implemented

Paint stewardship in the news

• Paint recycling program teaches skills, offers second chances, Oregon Metro, Nov. 7, 2017
• Paint Recycling: More Fun Than Watching It Dry, Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) event in Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR, Dec. 1, 2016
• Paint recycling bill can reduce waste, create jobs, The Olympian, Feb. 3, 2016
• Washington delegation tours MetroPaint to see recycling in action, (article and video) November 2015
• Portland Radio Project's Nov. 9, 2015 interview with PaintCare and MetroPaint representatives
• Building suppliers paint a prettier picture for materials recycler, Portland Business Journal, April 16, 2015
• King 5 News aired a segment on the paint recycling bill on Dec. 19, 2014.