Leftover latex and oil-based paints are costly to manage and can be toxic. When dumped into the trash or down the drain, they can contaminate our environment with hazardous materials such as cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and more. Each year, Americans generate over 80 million gallons of leftover latex and oil-based paint, most of which is recyclable. Proper paint management costs around $8 per liquid gallon; local household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities spend up to 50% of their budgets on paint alone. Paint stewardship programs can help ensure unwanted paint is properly managed; requiring paint producers to educate residents on proper paint disposal and establish convenient collection opportunities to drop off their unwanted paint. These programs are funded in part by paint producers and through a small eco-fee charged to consumers on each can of paint they purchase and are run by paint producers via a product stewardship organization.
Programs
Paint Care Oregon
In 2009, Oregon passed HB 3037, relating to paint stewardship, amended in 2011 as HB 2191, which established a first-in-the-nation paint EPR program, requiring architectural paint manufacturers to manage and finance an environmentally sound and cost-effective paint stewardship pilot program. Based on the success of the pilot program, Oregon’s 2013 Legislature passed HB 2048, which made the paint stewardship program permanent in Oregon. Under the program, consumers are charged a fee for each covered paint container purchased, which is then paid to the stewardship organization, PaintCare, who use the funds to run Oregon’s program to provide collection opportunities and outreach and education on proper paint disposal to Oregon residents. Oregon’s paint stewardship program is overseen by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (OR DEQ).
Paint Care Washington
In 2019, Washington passed HB 1652, concerning paint stewardship, which established a collection program for the recycling or proper disposal of unwanted architectural paint in Washington state. Under the program, consumers are charged a fee for each covered paint container purchased, which is then paid to the stewardship organization, PaintCare, who use the funds to run the program to provide collection opportunities and outreach and education. Washington’s paint stewardship program is overseen by the Washington Department of Ecology.
Resources
Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) – Paint
Video: King County – Recycling Paint for Environmental Health