Paint

Facts about paint:

• In 2000, California collected 17.2 million pounds of leftover paint — California Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) Form 303
  

• Paint represents 40-60%, by volume, of all Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collected at HHW facilities — Product Stewardship Initiative (PSI) Final Paint Technical Report, March 2004
  

• The average collection and management costs of leftover paint is $8.00 per gallon — PSI Final Paint Technical Report
  

• Only 50% of California's population has access to a permanent HHW facility where paint is collected — DTSC Form 303, 2000
  

• The current national generation of leftover paint is estimated to be between 17-35 million gallons of paint per year — PSI Final Paint Technical Report

• The most important thing you can do to help solve this problem is to make sure you don't buy more paint than you really need. Use this interactive calculator from the Paint Quality Institute to tell you how much paint you need to purchase. You'll save money, too!

News & Events

• Portland Metro Recycles Leftover Paint —The Oregonian 8/27/09

• Oregon Passes Nation's First Paint Product Stewardship Law —The Oregonian 7/8/09

• CIWMB (now CalRecycle) Hearing on Paint Stewardship Dialogue 12/4/07
  View the speakers' presentations:

• Memorandum of Understanding to Develop a Nationally Coordinated Leftover Paint Management System —Shirley Willd-Wagner, CIWMB (now CalRecycle)
  
• Leftover Paint Management: Impact on Local Government Programs —Kimbra Andrews, San Joaquin County
  
• Managing Post-Consumer Paint —Alison Keane, National Paint and Coatings Association

Policy & Legislation

California

• AB 1343 - Architectural Paint Product Stewardship, Approved 9/29/10
  The second paint stewardship law passed in the country (after Oregon) will be implemented by Paintcare, a nonprofit stewardship organization working on behalf of the paint producers.
  
  
• Implementation of the Paint Stewardship Program in Canada, Oregon and California:
  Video from California Assembly Hearing on EPR and Product Stewardship 3/8/11
  
  Speakers:
  Mark Kurschner, ProductCare
  Alison Keane, American Coatings Association/PaintCare
  Lorraine Segala, President, Amazon Environmental
  Jerry Noel, President, Visions Paint Recycling Inc
  Note: This large file takes time to load!
  
  
  
  
• CPSC letter requests recycled paint exemption to SCAQMD Ruling No. 314 12/2/08

Elsewhere

Minnesota

• Minnesota's Paint Product Stewardship Bill, SF477, was vetoed by the Governor 2 years in a row.

Oregon

• House Bill 3037 - Oregon Paint Product Stewardship Law
  Approved 7/23/09
  Oregon’s Paint Product Stewardship Law is the nations’ first manufacturer financed system managing leftover architectural paint.

What You Can Do To Help

Consumers

Things to Consider When Purchasing and Using Paint

• Buy recycled latex paint —CalRecycle
• Green Seal Certified Recycled-Content Latex Paint

The following are excerpts from Product Stewardship Institute's guide Be Paint Wise, Buy the Right Size:

• Buy the correct amount of paint for the project
  When you purchase the right amount of paint, it eliminates the need to store, recycle or dispose of paint when the project is finished.
  
• Store paint to keep it fresh
  For best results, cover the opening of the paint can with plastic wrap, securely seal the lid, then turn the can upside down and store in a place with moderate room temperature to avoid freezing.
  
• Use up leftover paint
  Properly stored leftover paint can be used for touch-ups or small projects.
  
• Reuse or recycle leftover paint
  If you can't use it yourself, give leftover paint to a friend or neighbor or donate to a worthwhile local organization.
  
• Dispose of the paint properly
  If you have no other options for leftover paint, you'll need to seek a safe disposal option. Latex paint can be dried out for disposal, but alkyd or oil-based paint cannot and must be taken to a household hazardous waste disposal facility. Small amounts of latex (less than 1/2 inch) will dry quickly once the lid is removed. For larger amounts, the paint can be mixed in a box with an absorbent material such as kitty litter. When completely dry, it can then be disposed of as garbage. Metal paint cans are acceptable in many recycling programs, but check with your local program first for any restrictions.
  
• Ask your paint store to recycle your leftover paint
  It doesn't hurt to ask! Let them know that you would appreciate a take-back program for leftover paint. Vendors want to keep their customers happy and you can help them realize that taking responsibility for the products they produce and sell is important to you.

Local Government Action

Purchase Recycled-Content Paint

Local governments can cost-effectively purchase recycled-content paint through the State of California’s contract. The Public Contract Code (PCC), Section 12203, requires State agencies to purchase recycled paint containing at least 50% post-consumer paint. Local government agencies are encouraged to purchase recycled-content paint meeting these same standards. Using the Statewide Contract for Recycled Latex Paint can help agencies fulfill this requirement.

Local government agencies must be granted permission to use the State contract by the Department of General Services. Download the Purchasing Authority Application.

Start a Paint Reuse Program

Guidance Manual for Paint Reuse Programs —Product Stewardship Institute

Require Producer Responsibility

Cities and Counties are taking local action to require producers and/or retailers to take primary responsibility for end-of-life management of toxic and problematic products. San Luis Obispo County passed ordinances that shift the financial burden for management of paint, sharps, fluorescent lights and household batteries from local government to the producers and retailers of these products.

• San Luis Obispo County's Ordinance No. 2009-1 establishing a used regulated paint management program 5/13/09

Resources

• California's Be Paint Wi$e Grant Project

• Paint Webinar: Solving California's Paint Dilemma Through Product Stewardship 4/29/10

• Green Seal Certified Recycled-Content Latex Paint

• Statewide Survey of HHW Programs: Paint Volumes, Costs and Program Cut Backs —San Francisco Department of the Environment 12/09
  The City and County of San Francisco gathered information from July to November of 2009 from local governments on paint disposal costs, amounts collected and current or planned reductions in service due to budget constraints to develop baseline cost, tonnage and service data.

• CPSC Case Study on British Columbia Paint Stewardship Program 1/19/09

• British Columbia Product Stewardship Program
  In British Columbia, Product Care operates more than 100 depots across the province where consumers may return leftover paint including 40 depots where consumers may also dispose of flammables, gasoline and pesticides.

• Oregon Paint Product Stewardship —Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Links

• Acrylatex Coatings & Recycling, Inc.
  

• Amazon Environmental

• National Paint Product Stewardship Initiative

• Visions Paint Recycling, Inc.