September 30, 2025 After more than 30 years of service, Metro—the Portland-area regional government—is closing its beloved MetroPaint recycled-latex paint program by the end of 2025. This marks the end of an era, but also the embodiment of a powerful Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) success story.  BUILDING A MODEL FOR STEWARDSHIP  MetroPaint began in the early 1990s as part of Metro’s household hazardous waste program, repurposing leftover latex paint collected from the public. In 1999, it launched its first recycling and retail operation in Oregon City, processing latex paint into new recycled paint which it sold to consumers. It was an early demonstration of how stewardship could create value while serving communities.  From July 2010 through June 2025, MetroPaint’s impact was profound:  Opened the equivalent of 12.7 million 1-gallon cans  Pr