PaintCare’s program makes paint recycling more convenient
PaintCare news release
AUGUSTA, ME – (October 1, 2015) – Paint recycling just got easier for all Mainers. PaintCare, a Washington, DC-based product stewardship organization for the paint industry is pleased to announce the start of a new paint recycling program in Maine. The Maine Paint Stewardship Program was established by 2013 legislation, and approved by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection on August 11 of this year. The program currently operates in eight states nationwide, including three in New England (CT, RI, VT).
PaintCare is a non-profit organization tasked with working with state and local government to develop paint product stewardship programs. The organization was created by the American Coatings Association (ACA), a membership organization of paint and coatings manufacturers, to set up drop-off sites, conduct public outreach and education, and operate on-going programs in states that pass legislation for the recycling of post-consumer paint.
The Maine law requires that paint manufacturers create and fund a convenient and environmentally responsible statewide program to manage post-consumer paint (unused or leftover). The program is funded by a nominal fee added to the purchase price of paint at retailers throughout the state. The fees are based on container size: 35¢ for pints and quarts, 75¢ for 1-gallon cans, and $1.60 for 5-gallon buckets.
“The PaintCare program will create a simple and convenient solution for collecting and managing unwanted paint, while protecting the environment and human health,” said Sarah Lakeman, Sustainable Maine Project Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, “The program will also save money for Maine taxpayers by eliminating the need for municipally funded paint collection events.”
For the convenience of all Maine paint consumers, most PaintCare drop-off sites will be at paint retailers, which are open all year long. This will give homeowners, renters, and paint professionals alike, multiple easy-to-use options to recycle unwanted paint.
“We’re all so excited to officially get the program in Maine off the ground,” said PaintCare’s Maine Program Manager, John Hurd. “The residents and business community across the state have really embraced the mission of PaintCare by working toward adding over 60 drop-off locations statewide to accept Maine’s unwanted, leftover paint surplus, helping to keep paint out of the waste stream, and ultimately keeping Maine the pristine, natural, beautiful place that it is,” added Hurd.
To help kick off the program in Maine, PaintCare will be hosting a one-day paint drop-off event from households and businesses in the Bangor area on Saturday, October 10. The event will take place at the Bangor Public Works Garage (530 Maine Avenue) and run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information on the PaintCare program in Maine please visit www.paintcare.org/paintcare-states/maine/#/everyone. PaintCare lists all drop-of sites on its website, and by using an easy-to-use search tool, residents and businesses can find the nearest drop-off site by entering their zip code or town.
About PaintCare
Paint manufacturers created PaintCare, a non-profit stewardship organization to run recycling programs in states that pass paint stewardship laws. Through PaintCare, the paint industry sets up drop-off locations for unused paint, arranges for recycling and proper disposal of the paint, and conducts outreach about proper paint management. For additional information, visit paintcare.org.
