Product Stewardship

Paint

In 2009 Oregon became the first state in the nation to enact a law requiring paint manufacturers to safely manage leftover latex and oil-based paint from consumer and contractor painting jobs. This historic product stewardship legislation responds to the problem of managing leftover paint -- the largest component of local household hazardous waste collection programs. An estimated 10 percent of the more than 750 million gallons of architectural paint sold each year in the United States is unused. This difficult-to-manage waste can be captured for reuse, recycling, energy recovery, or safe disposal, but doing so requires public awareness and a convenient and effective local infrastructure, currently beyond most local budgets and capacity.

The paint stewardship law, is expected to result in the proper management of up to 800,000 gallons of leftover paint each year. Paint recycling is now more convenient throughout the state, particularly in areas where local governments do not offer paint recycling opportunities. Governments that previously collected leftover paint will realize a direct financial savings. Communities that were underserved have new services. Beginning in July 2010, the paint industry started a program to reduce paint waste, increase reuse and recycling, and safely dispose of remaining unusable paint. Costs for safely managing leftover paint are incorporated in the purchase price of new paint.

This new law ties into the wider producer responsibility movement, in which Oregon is a national leader. Producer responsibility means manufacturers take responsibility for reducing the life cycle impacts of a product, including internalizing the end-of-life management costs, rather than having government set up and fund collection programs for waste products. The U.S. movement has resulted in 19 state electronics laws (including Oregon E-Cycles), seven state thermostat laws, one fluorescent lamp law, and several laws on batteries and auto switches.

• PaintCare Collection Sites
  A map-based collection site finder on the Product Care Association Web site.
• DEQ Legislative Report: Oregon's Paint Product Stewardship Law (2.6MB, 85 pages)
• Paint Product Stewardship Stakeholder Meetings
  Follow this link to information from past meetings.
• PaintCare
  The Oregon Paint Stewardship Pilot Program
• Paint Product Stewardship Pilot Program Annual Report - 2011

• Report only
• Appendices only (5.5MB)

• PaintCare Oregon Paint Stewardship Pilot Program Plan PDF

• Brands List
  Appendix F of the Pilot Program Plan
• Participant/Producer List

• Fact sheets:

• Oregon's Paint Product Stewardship Law

• House Bill 2191 - Enrolled
  2011 Legislation
• House Bill 3037 - Enrolled
  2009 Legislation
• Paint Smart Pilot Program: Evaluation and Final Report, September 1998
  Prepared by Cascadia Consulting Group
• News:

• Oregon DEQ Approves Plan for Oregon Paint "Take Back" Program
  June 29, 2010
• Oregon Passes First Paint Producer Responsibility Law in the Nation
  July 24, 2009
• Oregon Environmental News - OregonLive.com
  Your leftover paints are turning into bright recycling success

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