Paint Programs

NWPSC Paint Product Stewardship Initiative (PPSI)

The NWPSC is participating in the Paint Product Stewardship Initiative (PPSI). The PPSI, initiated in 2003 by the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), is a collaboration among state and local governments, manufacturers, retailers, paint recyclers, paint contractors, and environmental/consumer advocates to develop leftover paint management solutions that are both financially and environmentally sustainable.

In October 2007, the National Painting and Coatings Association (NPCA, now known as the American Coatings Association (ACA)) and PPSI finalized a second Memorandum of Understanding (PDF) (MOU). The MOU called for the establishment of an industry-funded Paint Stewardship Organization to collect and manage leftover paint using a pass-through cost to consumers. The agreement also committed stakeholders (PDF) to conduct a Demonstration Project (pilot project) in Minnesota in July 2008, and then full programs in Washington, Vermont, and Oregon in January 2009, and other states after that time. This schedule was altered after Minnesota’s enabling legislation was vetoed by their governor. As a result, Oregon passed legislation in 2009 and began the paint product stewardship pilot program in July 2010. A PPSI committee evaluated the Oregon Paint Product Stewardship Pilot program.

PaintCare logo PaintCare

As a result of the Paint Product Stewardship Initiative and the subsequent passage of paint stewardship legislation in Oregon, California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, the American Coatings Association (ACA), a trade organization for paint manufacturers, formed PaintCare to administer paint stewardship programs. PaintCare is part of the Product Care Association, a non-profit industry sponsored association that manages multiple stewardship programs for various products in Canada and the U.S.

Oregon Paint Stewardship Pilot Program (PaintCare Oregon)

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) approved the Oregon Paint Stewardship Pilot Program Plan (PDF) setting in motion the first paint product stewardship “take-back” program in the nation that began on July 1, 2010.  The program is operated by the PaintCare stewardship organization and is funded by an assessment on paint that is sold in Oregon.  The program gives consumers the ability to return unused paint to participating retailers and other sites for proper recycling or disposal. 

Several reports and websites are available that provide information on the pilot program:

The non-profit organization PaintCare was created by American Coatings Association (ACA), a trade organization for paint manufacturers, to administer the pilot program. PaintCare pays an administrative fee to DEQ ($10,000 for submittal of the program plan and $10,000 annually thereafter) on behalf of manufacturers for plan approval and program enforcement/oversight. Manufacturers of covered products may not sell their product in Oregon unless they are participating in the PaintCare program.

The PaintCare program was established under Oregon Paint Product Stewardship law, Enrolled House Bill 3037 (PDF), which was passed by the 2009 Oregon Legislature. The law directs manufacturers of paints sold in Oregon to set up and run "a convenient, statewide system" for the collection of post-consumer latex and oil-based paint.

This pilot program is an oucome of the Paint Product Stewardship Inititative (PPSI) conducted by the Product Stewardship Institute. Goal 6 of the PPSI 2008 demonstration project work plan (Word document) was to “measure and evaluate the performance of the Demonstration Project, and ensure the results and learning that the evaluation generates are transferable and relevant to the rollout of a national post-consumer paint management system.” To achieve this task, PPSI formed an Evaluation Committee with representatives from Oregon DEQ, the ACA, PSI, Oregon Metro Government, roll-out states, paint manufacturers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and EPA’s contractor. Information about the evaluation questions, methodology, preliminary results, as well as the PaintCare 2011 first annual report, are available at the PPSI Evaluation Committee website.

California Paint Stewardship Program (PaintCare California)

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) approved the stewardship organization (PaintCare) program plan and the PaintCare program began October 19, 2012. Introduced in 2009, AB 1343 passed the California legislature and was approved by the Governor in 2010. The paint stewardship program is funded by manufacturers through a uniform paint stewardship assessment approved by CalRecycle. The assessment is added to the cost of all architectural paint sold to California retailers and distributors. Retailers and distributors are required to add the assessment to the purchase price of all architectural paint sold in the state. CalRecycle is responsible for monitoring paint stewardship programs and enforcing compliance. Manufacturers or stewardship organizations are required to pay fees to the department to cover administrative costs.

NWPSCPaint Collection Cost Model

The Northwest Product Stewardship Council engaged the Cascadia Consulting Group to design a methodology to measure direct and indirect costs associated with the collection of paint (oil-based and latex) and mercury lamps. The resulting Excel-based financial model (Excel) is intended to help existing and potential MRW (moderate risk waste) collection sites estimate the cost to collect paint and mercury lamps at their facilities.

Two time-and-motion studies were conducted using this model and its accompanying guidance documents: the first in November 2010 in Snohomish County and the second in January 2011 in Kitsap County.
MRW Collection Cost Model and guidance documents: