O’Dea: New Paint Reccyling Program
Connecticut’s new paint recycling program has begun, the new law mandates paint manufacturers create and fund a program to manage unused or leftover post-consumer paint.
This recycling program allows consumers to dispose of unused or leftover paint in a responsible and environmentally-friendly manner.
PaintCare, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit set up by the American Coatings Association, manages the program in Connecticut and has established paint drop-off sites across the state. PaintCare drop-off sites are permanent and open year-round making it much more convenient for people to recycle their paint – including oil-based, water-based, and latex paint and deck stains.
Most drop-off sites are paint retail stores and hardware stores. Others sites include town transfer stations, recycling centers, and government-sponsored household hazardous waste programs.
In addition, PaintCare is sponsoring statewide drop-off events. For our area, a paint drop-off event will be held on July 20th at Fairfield Ward High School, 755 Melville Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06825 from 9am – 1pm. This includes an opportunity to recycle both latex and oil-based paint.
Click here for more details on PaintCare, and the new paint recycling program including:
* Participating private paint and hardware stores
* Acceptable and unacceptable products at paint care drop-off sites
* Statewide Drop-Off Events, including participating towns and dates
The paint recycle program is funded by a ‘recovery fee’ added to the purchase price of paint at retailers throughout participating states. Consumers in CT will now pay an extra fee when they buy paint. The fees will run from $0.35 cents for a pint to $0.75 cents for a gallon of paint.
Connecticut is the third state in the U.S. to have such a program, after Oregon and California. Rhode Island’s paint recycling program will begin in 2014.