California Paint Stewardship Program Takes Effect

The California Paint Stewardship Program requiring paint manufacturers to develop a take-back system for leftover paint took effect Oct. 19.

The program targeted for household and commercial consumers of paint was established by a new law, AB 1343 (2010) introduced by California State Assembly Member Jared Huffman. The new program will be the second and largest of its kind in the U.S. Oregon’s pilot program started two years ago. Connecticut and Rhode Island are planning similar programs.

Paint manufacturers, through the American Coatings Association, created PaintCare, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to administer the state programs. The non-profit will arrange for recycling and proper disposal of unused paint and conduct public education about proper paint management.

Huffman says he believes that this California PaintCare program will be particularly helpful to consumers and local governments.“This is an important program that will make paint recycling more convenient for Californians, reduce the financial burden on local governments, and protect the environment,” he says. “It allows industry to take the lead in developing a safe and reliable system for the recovery and proper management of leftover paint. It’s a win-win-win.”

“This program will make proper paint management more convenient for the public by setting up hundreds of new paint drop-off sites at retailers throughout the state,” says Marjaneh Zarrehparvar, executive director of PaintCare. “It will also help local governments that partner with PaintCare by paying for the paint they already accept through their household hazardous waste programs.”

Funding for the program will come from a Recovery Fee that will be applied to the purchase price of paint sold in California and paid to PaintCare. Fees are based on container size and range from $.35 for more than ½ pint and up to 1 gallon of paint, to $1.60 for quantities greater than a gallon up to five gallons. Quantities of ½ pint or less do not incur a fee.

PaintCare will use the fees to pay for the transportation of leftover paint from partnering drop-off sites to processors for recycling and energy recovery. These fees will also assist PaintCare in its efforts to educate consumers on the importance of buying the correct amount of paint, using up leftover paint, keeping paint out of the trash, and recycling remaining unusable paint.

For more information about the California Paint Stewardship Program or to find out where you can recycle your own paint, visit www.paintcare.org.

PaintCare is a non-profit organization established by the American Coatings Association to implement Paint Stewardship Programs on behalf of the paint manufacturers in states that pass paint stewardship laws.