The Bullet:

California’s Paint Stewardship Law requires the paint manufacturing industry to develop a financially sustainable and environmentally responsible program to manage post consumer architectural paint.  The program includes setting up convenient recycling locations throughout California where people and business can bring unused paint.

Who:

• Paint manufacturers created PaintCare, a non-profit organization, to operate the paint stewardship program in California.
• People bringing paint from their homes can bring as much latex or oil-based paint as the site is willing to accept.
• Businesses (painting contractors and others) can use this program with the following restrictions:
  •  Any amount of latex paint the site is willing to accept.
  • Oil-based  paint is acceptable only from a business that generates no more than 100 kg (220 lb or about 20-30 gallons) of RCRA-hazardous waste per month.

What:

PaintCare Products (accepted for free at drop-off sites):

• Interior and exterior architectural paints: latex, acrylic, water-based, alkyd, oil-based, enamel (including textured coatings).
• Deck coatings, floor paints (including elastomeric).
• Primers, sealers, undercoaters.
• Stains
• Shellacs, lacquers, varnishes, urethanes (single component).
• Waterproofing concrete/masonry/wood sealers and repellents (not tar or bitumen-based)
• Metal coatings, rust preventatives.
• Field and lawn paints.

Non-PaintCare Products (not accepted):

• Leaking, unlabeled, and empty containers.
• Containers of more than 5 gallons.
• Paint thinners, mineral spirits, solvents.
• Aerosol paints (spray cans).
  • These may be managed as a universal waste in California.
• Auto and marine paints.
• Art and craft paints.
• Caulk, epoxies, glues, adhesives.
• Paint additives, colorants, tints, resins.
• Wood preservatives (containing pesticiedes)
• Roof patch and repair.
• Asphalt, tar, and bitumen-based products.
• 2-component coatings.
• Deck cleaners.
• Traffic and road marking paints.
• Industrial Maintenance (IM) coatings.
• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)(shop application) paints and finishes.

Where:

To find your nearest drop-off site, use PaintCare’s search tool at www.paintcare.org or call its hotline at 855.724.6809.

When:

No time restrictions.

Why:

PaintCare will ensure the unused paint is remixed into recycled paint, used as a fuel, made into other products or properly disposed.

How:

Consumers pay fees for PaintCare Products at the time of purchase.  The fees are used to fund the collection and recycling of paint and the remainder of the Paint Stewardship Program in California.

Conclusion:

California is one of only eight states with a Paint Stewardship Program.  I encourage any person or business to take advantage of this free program.