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About PaintCare
PaintCare, a non-profit (501(c)(3)) organization, was created by the American Coatings Association (ACA), who, working with state and local government stakeholders, passed the first ever paint product stewardship law in the United States in the State of Oregon in 2009. This legislation piloted an industry-lead end-of-life management program for post-consumer paint which PaintCare was established to operate. California, Connecticut and Rhode Island have passed similar legislation in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.
The ACA has supported the passage of industry managed paint product stewardship programs to find a solution to properly manage leftover consumer paint. Until recently, the only option for consumers was costly government run household hazardous waste (HHW) collection programs. Post-consumer paint can be collected for reuse, recycling, energy recovery, or safe disposal, but doing so requires public awareness and a convenient and effective infrastructure that exceeds local government budgets and capacity. The system must also be cost effective.
The industry supported laws passed in the four states enable the paint industry to implement a collection program by providing a level playing field among manufacturers and retailers; a sustainable financing system; and an antitrust exemption for activities pursuant to the program — most notably the financing system.
The financing system is termed a paint stewardship assessment, and is paid to PaintCare by producers of architectural paint sold in participating states. The assessment must then be added to the wholesale price of paint to all distributors and retailers, and included in the final purchase price of paint to consumers (in participating states). This financing system apportions funding fairly amongst the manufacturers and retailers and is based on sales of new paint. In addition, it provides for a transparent system, where the consumer shares the responsibility for the end-of-life paint management. Financing from the system is used to set-up and run statewide systems for the collection of post-consumer paint. The collected paint is managed according to the waste management hierarchy emphasizing reuse, recycling, energy recovery and proper disposal.
Partners
American Coatings Association
The American Coatings Association (ACA) is a non-profit industry trade association advancing the needs of the paint and coatings industry through advocacy and programs that support environmental protection, product stewardship, health, safety, and the advancement of science and technology.
Product Care
Product Care is a non-profit industry association managing product stewardship programs for household hazardous and special waste on behalf of its members across Canada. Product Care's programs help protect the environment by diverting leftover and end of life products from landfills, waterways, and sewers. Product Care provides consumers with a collection system network for the products it manages. The collected products are then reused or recycled where possible.
Product Stewardship Institute
The Product Stewardship Institute, Inc. (PSI) is a national non-profit environmental institute that establishes cooperative agreements to reduce the health and environmental impacts from consumer products. PSI has membership from 45 states, over 170 local governments, and more than 55 businesses, organizations, universities, and non-US governments. PSI works on over a dozen product categories, including paint.
State Agency Partners
CalRecycle
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is the state's leading authority on recycling, waste reduction, and product reuse. CalRecycle plays an important role in the stewardship of California's vast resources and promotes innovation in technology to encourage economic and environmental sustainability.
Connecticut DEEP
The mission of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is to conserve, improve and protect the natural resources and environment of the State of Connecticut in such a manner as to encourage the social and economic development of Connecticut while preserving the natural environment and the life forms it supports in a delicate, interrelated and complex balance, to the end that the state may fulfill its responsibility as trustee of the environment for present and future generations.
Oregon DEQ
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is a regulatory agency whose job is to protect the quality of Oregon’s environment. Its mission is to be a leader in restoring, maintaining and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land and water. DEQ supports product stewardship as a key environmental strategy in minimizing a product's environmental impact throughout all stages of the product's life.
Rhode Island DEM
The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is committed to preserving the quality of Rhode Island's environment, maintaining the health and safety of its residents, and protecting the natural systems upon which life depends. Together with many partners, DEM offers assistance to individuals, business and municipalities, conducts research, finds solutions, and enforces laws created to protect the environment.