Program Details
PaintCare offers drop-off sites throughout Minnesota where the public can take unwanted paint for recycling. These sites are available to households, government agencies, and others with leftover paint.
Drop Off Paint
Large Volume Pickup (LVP) Service
If you have a large amount of unwanted paint (100+ gallons), PaintCare offers a free service to painting contractors, property managers, and others with large amounts of leftover architectural paint.
Products We Accept
PaintCare sites accept house paint as well as primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish. Accepted products, also referred to as “PaintCare products” and “architectural coatings,” are the same ones that carry the PaintCare fee when purchased.
Fee and Funding
PaintCare programs are funded by a fee (referred to as the PaintCare fee) which is applied to the purchase price of each container of new paint sold in the state. There is no charge for dropping off paint at a PaintCare drop-off site. The PaintCare fee is not a tax or a deposit. The fee funds all aspects of the paint stewardship program.
For more information on the fee, visit the PaintCare Fee Page.
The fee in Minnesota is based on container size as follows:
Official Documents
Summary of 2024 Minnesota Annual Report
This one-page infographic highlights the successes from the most recent reporting period (January to December 2024) for the Minnesota PaintCare program. Please consider downloading and printing a copy of the infographic and then posting it for staff and the public at your business or organization.
Annual Reports
- 2024 Annual Report (January – December 2024)
- 2023 Annual Report (January – December 2023)
- 2022 Annual Report (January – December 2022)
- 2021 Annual Report (January – December 2021)
- 2020 Calendar Year Annual Report (January – December 2020)
- 2020 Annual Report (July 2019 – June 2020)
- 2019 Annual Report (July 2018 – June 2019)
- 2018 Annual Report (July 2017 – June 2018)
- 2017 Annual Report (July 2016 – June 2017)
- 2016 Annual Report (July 2015 – June 2016)
- 2015 Annual Report (November 2014 – June 2015)
State Agency
The oversight agency for the Minnesota paint stewardship program is the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
Program Plan
PaintCare’s program plan for Minnesota describes the operations, outreach, and other activities for the Minnesota paint stewardship program.
- Minnesota Paint Stewardship Program Plan (November 17, 2014)
Law
Laws relevant to the PaintCare program in Minnesota can be found at https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/
- Minnesota Statutes
- Chapter 114C – 116I. Environmental Protection
- Chapter 115A. Waste Management
- Paint Stewardship Program, Sections 115A.1415 and 115A.142
Sales Tax
The Minnesota Department of Revenue has provided an explanation of why the PaintCare Fee is subject to state sales tax in the following letter:
- Letter regarding Minnesota Sales Tax (March 18, 2014)