Paint

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 
  • Processed 5.3 million liquid gallons of latex paint 
  • Recycled 3.7 million gallons into new paint products 
  • Distributed 92,000 gallons for reuse 

Over the decades, the program produced more than 2.2 million gallons of high-quality recycled paint and sold more than 1.6 million gallons to more than 130,000 customers. 

SETTING THE STANDARD FOR RECYCLED PAINT 

MetroPaint products, certified under the Green Seal GS-43 standard, proved that recycled paint could meet rigorous performance requirements. Available in 10–12 consistent colors and priced 80% lower than conventional alternatives, MetroPaint helped build consumer trust in recycled-content products. 

Much of MetroPaint’s national impact can be traced to the leadership of Jim Quinn, the program’s long-time manager. Metro was a founding PSI member, and Jim was instrumental during the national discussions that PSI mediated to create the first U.S. EPR program developed by consensus with the paint industry, governments at the local, state, and federal levels, recyclers, and other stakeholders. This groundbreaking agreement was a big deal—and Jim and Metro were critical to making it happen. Their role helped establish PaintCare and set the standard for collaborative product stewardship. 

METROPAINT WINDS DOWN, BUT THE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM CONTINUES 

In 2025, Metro announced that rising operational expenses, aging equipment, and declining sales would force the recycler to close by year’s end. While the closure reflects financial realities, it also highlights how far paint recycling has come since MetroPaint first broke ground. 

The good news for Oregonians Is that despite the closure, the statewide paint stewardship program operated by PaintCare will continue on.   

“MetroPaint was a partner of PaintCare from day one and without them the Oregon program would not be what it is today,” said Fred Gabriel, Senior Director of Operations at PaintCare. “We know that other paint processors are willing and available to continue the good work MetroPaint has conducted for much of the last fifteen years. PaintCare will soon start negotiating with paint transportation and service providers which were selected from a request for proposals process that predates the closure announcement.” 

Since the Oregon PaintCare program launched in 2010, MetroPaint has recycled an estimated 4 million gallons of latex paint collected by the program. Today, PaintCare operates nearly 200 drop-off sites across Oregon—including many in the Portland metro area—ensuring no interruption to recycling services for households and businesses. To find a drop-off site, visit www.paintcare.org 

METROPAINT’S LASTING LEGACY 

MetroPaint leaves behind a remarkable legacy. It demonstrated that recycling leftover paint is not only environmentally sound, but also operationally viable. It built trust in recycled-content products, created market expectations for quality and affordability, and laid the groundwork for PaintCare’s statewide system and stewardship programs in 12 states and Washington D.C. 

As PaintCare noted: “We thank MetroPaint for their partnership over the last 15 years and look forward to continuing our commitment to providing convenient paint recycling opportunities for Oregonians.” 

Metro’s leadership shows how governments can catalyze stewardship, then enable industry to sustain it—a true model of EPR in action. 

Sources 

June 30th, 2025

For over 15 years, PaintCare and the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) have worked together to support convenient paint recycling opportunities for households and businesses across 11 program states. PaintCare operates paint stewardship programs in CA, CT, CO, DC, ME, MN, NY, OR, RI, VT, and WA. Two additional programs are currently being planned in Illinois and Maryland. To date, PaintCare has collected 82 million gallons of paint, keeping it out of the waste stream.

Q&A With PaintCare 

Q: For those newer to paint stewardship, can you give us a brief overview of PaintCare’s mission and how it operates within the framework of state-level extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws? 

A: PaintCare is the nonprofit organization that plans and operates paint stewardship programs in states that pass the paint stewardship law. In these program states, recycling paint is made more convenient for households, businesses, contractors, and others with unwanted, leftover paint. PaintCare operates a network of more than 2,500 drop-off sites to make it easy to responsibly manage leftover paint and keep it out of the waste stream. PaintCare currently collects more than 8 million gallons annually from 11 programs.   

The paint stewardship program is funded by a fee, called the PaintCare Fee, which is applied to the purchase price of each container of new paint sold in each state that has passed the paint stewardship law. The fee is paid to PaintCare by paint manufacturers and is then added to the wholesale and retail purchase price of paint, passing the cost of managing leftover paint to everyone who buys and uses it to ensure a level playing field.  

The fee funds all aspects of the paint stewardship program. This includes paint collection, transportation, recycling, public outreach, and program administration, as well as managing “legacy” paint—material that has been accumulating in homes and businesses since before the program began. There is no charge for dropping off paint at a PaintCare drop-off site.

 

Q: As more states consider EPR legislation, PaintCare is frequently referred to as a working model. What are the most important factors that have contributed to its long-term success, and what insights could be valuable for emerging EPR programs across other product categories? 

A: The PaintCare model has three key elements that contribute to its success: industry commitment, close coordination with stakeholders, and a clear vision for delivering a cost-effective and convenient program that maintains high standards.   

It cannot be overstated how important it has been to hold fast to the principles established during the PSI-structured dialogue between ACA and stakeholders in the early 2000s. It shaped the coatings industry’s commitment to making PaintCare what it is today. It established the need for industry to sustainably fund program operations through the PaintCare fee, dedicated to a public-purpose non-profit, and forged the premise for building on a foundation of state and local partnerships.   

Having a predictable, mutually agreed upon structure has allowed PaintCare to focus on details that matter, specifically considering what will make the program work best for each state. Being able to prioritize convenience and cost-effective service delivery should be a goal for every EPR program — and not merely for operational efficiency. For an emerging EPR program, the ability to maintain consistency and focus is critical. 

 

Q: EPR doesn’t stop at collection. What happens to the leftover paint once it enters your system—and how does PaintCare contribute to reuse, recycling, and proper end-of-life management?

A: Paint collected by PaintCare is managed according to a policy of highest, best use. This means that some of the better-quality paint is made available to consumers through reuse programs, and most of the paint is recycled.   

Water-based products (i.e., latex paint) make up 86% of the paint collected. Most of this paint is sent to processors and used to create recycled-content paint products. Last year 4% was reused, 79% was recycled into new paint, 4% was used as alternative daily landfill cover, 12% was landfilled, and less than 1% was sent to a waste-to-energy plant.  

Oil-based products (i.e., alkyd paint) make up 14% of the paint collected. Most of this paint is used as fuel at cement factories. Last year 5% was reused, 76% was used as fuel, 1% was recycled into new paint, and 18% was sent to a hazardous waste incinerator.

 

Q: What’s next for PaintCare? Are there new programs, state rollouts, or innovations on the horizon that PSI members and stakeholders should watch for? 

A: PaintCare is planning two additional paint stewardship programs in Illinois and Maryland. With the addition of Illinois and Maryland, PaintCare will be operating 13 programs in 12 states and the District of Columbia, bringing paint recycling to about one third of the US population. The Illinois Paint Stewardship Act was passed in 2023, and the program is expected to launch in December 2025. The Maryland Paint Stewardship Act was passed in 2024, and the program is expected to launch in April 2026.

—

For more information about PaintCare, please reach out to Abby Horick at ahorick@paint.org. 

By Kristina Benoist, Marketing & Communications Director

March 26, 2025

California’s Plastic Pollution Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54) was designed to be a groundbreaking shift in how plastic waste is managed, requiring producers—not taxpayers—to take responsibility for packaging waste. However, less than two years after its enactment in 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered a revision, citing rising compliance costs, delays in implementation, and growing resistance from both industry and environmental groups.

While this decision has generated debate, it does not signal a reversal of producer responsibility in California or across the country. Instead, California is refining SB 54—making targeted adjustments to improve the feasibility of implementation while maintaining the law’s core objectives.

ADJUSTMENTS, NOT A ROLLBACK 

When SB 54 was signed into law in 2022, it introduced some of the most progressive plastic reduction and recycling targets in the country, including: 

  • A 25% reduction in single-use plastic packaging by 2032. 
  • A requirement that 65% of covered materials be recycled and certified through an approved process by 2032. 
  • A $5 billion producer-funded mitigation fund over a 10-year period, specifically $500 million annually from 2027 to 2037, to address the environmental impacts of plastic pollution and support affected communities.

As implementation began, producers raised financial and operational feasibility concerns. In response, Governor Newsom declined to approve the rules as drafted, acknowledging industry concerns and directing regulatory agencies to refine them before they could proceed to the California Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling for formal adoption. 

Rather than a rollback, California is expected to make targeted revisions that ease the transition for producers while preserving the law’s key goals. 

The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) review process, which is standard for regulatory changes, could take up to a year. However, to accelerate certain adjustments, an “urgency bill” could be introduced in the California Senate, allowing a limited number of critical revisions to be fast-tracked. 

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR EPR IN OTHER STATES 

While California’s experience with SB 54 is being closely watched, this revision process is unlikely to slow momentum for EPR nationwide. States like Minnesota, Colorado, Oregon, and Maine are continuing to quickly move forward with their own packaging EPR programs, each tailored to their specific regulatory and economic landscapes. 

WHAT ADJUSTMENTS ARE BEING DISCUSSED 

California Senator Ben Allen—the lead sponsor of SB 54—recently outlined proposed adjustments and clarifications in a letter to Jeff Fielkow, CEO of Circular Action Alliance (CAA). These proposals were part of a negotiation effort to encourage CAA’s support for the draft regulations. While not changes to the law, the suggestions emphasized collaboration, regulatory flexibility, and timeline adjustments to support smoother implementation. CAA ultimately declined to endorse the proposals.  

Key points included:
1. Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) Plan Adjustments

The deadline for the initial PRO plan submission is proposed to be moved to July 1, 2026, providing producers more time to develop their compliance strategies.

2. Financial and Reporting Adjustments

Temporary Simplified Eco-Modulation Fees – A simplified fee structure will be used until the end of 2029 to ease the transition for producers.

3. Annual Reports & Fee Schedules: 

Annual Budget and Fee Schedules – Producers must submit budget and fee schedules annually by October 1, 2026, separate from the full program report.

4. Compliance and Data Collection

Source Reduction Data – Producers must submit baseline source reduction data before the PRO plan submission deadline of July 1, 2026. CalRecycle will have the authority to update this baseline before 2027.

5. De Minimis Exemption

CalRecycle will clarify its current rules for small producers (de minimis criteria) through emergency regulations before the July 1, 2026 deadline for PRO plan submission.

6. Regulatory & Technological Considerations

  • Chemical Recycling Review: Any company using chemical recycling technologies will need to fund and commission peer-reviewed studies to demonstrate compliance. 
  • Reusable Packaging Standards: Durability standards for reusable food serviceware will be refined. 
  • Life Sciences Exemption: Secondary and tertiary packaging used in life sciences (e.g., medical and pharmaceutical industries) are proposed to be explicitly exempted. 

7. Reporting Flexibility
Annual, not Monthly, Reporting: To reduce administrative burden, producers will submit data annually rather than in monthly increments. 

WHAT’S NEXT FOR SB 54? 

With the Governor signaling the need for refinements to SB 54, the next steps focus on how these adjustments will be implemented. The process will move forward through multiple avenues, each operating at a different pace: 

  • Legislative Action – Lawmakers will introduce a bill to formally adopt revisions, incorporating stakeholder input to ensure the changes balance feasibility with the law’s original intent. 
  • Regulatory Adjustments – CalRecycle and the advisory board will refine program rules, clarify compliance requirements, and establish updated guidelines for producers through the regulatory process. 
  • Urgency Bill Option – If certain revisions require immediate implementation, an urgency bill could be introduced in the California Senate to fast-track specific changes, allowing them to take effect sooner than the standard legislative timeline. 
  • Administrative Review – The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) will oversee regulatory refinements. While this review process can take up to a year, select revisions may be expedited depending on legislative and agency priorities. 

The combination of these pathways ensures that SB 54 moves forward with adjustments that improve feasibility while keeping California’s producer responsibility framework intact. 

LOOKING AHEAD 

Extended deadlines and regulatory flexibility ensure that producers and the PRO can better prepare for compliance. Clarity on financial obligations helps industries transition smoothly into the eco-modulation fee structure. More specific guidelines on exemptions, reporting, and technology provide clearer expectations for producers and regulators. The continued dialogue and adjustments reinforce the state’s commitment to a workable and effective EPR system under SB 54. 

California’s adjustments to SB 54 will shape how the state fine-tunes its approach to producer responsibility, but its unique economic and regulatory environment means that its experience will likely not dictate how other states implement their programs. These adjustments intend to make SB 54 more easily implementable while still advancing California’s ambitious waste reduction and recycling goals. 

PSI diligently monitors and tracks all legislative developments, stakeholder responses and the evolution of these laws, not only in California, but for all 50 states.

Stay connected with PSI for updates on California’s plastics EPR law, industry reactions, and the future of producer responsibility nationwide. Want to learn how this legislation—and similar efforts in other states—could impact your business? Reach out to Darla Arians at darla.arians@productstewardship.us to explore how we can work together.

September 5, 2024

This week, the California Legislature passed significant EPR bills to establish several new programs and strengthen existing ones. Now awaiting Governor Newsom’s signature, the bills include first-in-the-nation EPR programs for textiles and marine flares, the second EPR law for EV batteries in the country, and meaningful amendments to California’s carpet and paint stewardship programs. These bills incorporate best practices learned in the past 10 years and put on display the blossoming of the EPR movement in the U.S. They also exemplify the important state-based advocacy of the California Product Stewardship Council, Californians Against Waste, and the National Stewardship Action Council. The Governor has until September 30 to sign the bills.

Textiles (SB 707)
California is poised to be the first state to enact an EPR law for textiles. The law would require producers of clothing, footwear, and household textiles to participate in and fund a statewide reuse and recycling program for their products. The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) sponsored the landmark legislation, which seeks to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry by increasing the reuse and recycling of textiles, which are major contributors to landfill waste and pollution. The bill garnered broad support from environmental organizations, municipal waste managers, and key players in the fashion and textile industries. California will join the European Union, which already has textiles recycling mandates.

EV Batteries (SB 615)
This EPR law would be the second in the nation (after New Jersey) to require suppliers of electric vehicle traction batteries to ensure the collection and management of those batteries at end-of-life. The bill establishes a “battery management hierarchy” that prioritizes reuse, repair, and remanufacturing and requires that each battery have a unique identifier so that it can be tracked for responsible management. As the largest U.S. market for electric vehicles, California’s law could “fuel” the growth of EV battery recycling in the U.S., providing essential materials for renewable energy manufacturing in the U.S. Californians Against Waste led bill advocacy with support from recycler Redwood Materials and others. 

Marine Flares (SB1066) 
This bill, if enacted, would be another first-in-the-nation EPR law. It would require any manufacturer (currently just Orion) of marine flares  – pyrotechnic devices used to signal distress in boating – to establish and fund a program for collection and proper disposal. Additionally, the bill bans perchlorate from marine flares sold to California consumers. The chemical is increasingly found in groundwater, surface water, and soil and is known to damage human thyroid functions that are essential to mental function, metabolism, and fetal development. This bill was championed by the National Stewardship Action Council and Zero Waste Sonoma. 

Carpet Amendment (AB 863)  
This amendment to California’s carpet stewardship program – the latest of three to improve the original carpet industry program – adds several elements to boost recycling, including a requirement for 5% carpet-to-carpet recycled content by 2028; mandatory sorting at approved collection sites by 2029, including proper storage and transportation of recyclable carpet to a recycler; standardized backstamping of carpet to support more efficient material sorting; and components of carpets published on the manufacturer website for better recycling. The amendment also includes nonvoting representation on the CARE board for a retailer, a circular economy NGO, and labor; funding for workforce development; audit transparency; and higher enforcement penalties. The original bill, which has since been amended, pushed even further, calling for a needs assessment to determine if the scope of the program should include other flooring such as luxury vinyl tile, sheet vinyl, and linoleum, which compete with carpet in the marketplace. This provision was intended to address a key carpet industry concern about leveling the playing field for all flooring. The original bill also contained higher targets for recycling and recycled content. This amendment was championed by the National Stewardship Action Council. 

Paint Amendment (SB 1143) 
PaintCare, the California paint stewardship program, added aerosol paints in 2023 to the original program established in 2007 by PSI, the American Coatings Association, and numerous government and private sector stakeholders. If enacted, this amendment would further expand the scope of the program to include furniture paint, marine paint, and other related products. Since adding aerosols to the California program, PaintCare has expressed interest in adding additional paint products to its programs in the other 12 jurisdictions with laws – yet another sign of the growing influence of EPR on materials management. This amendment, as well as the 2023 amendment, were championed by the National Stewardship Action Council.

Gas Cylinders (SB 1280) 
Although not EPR, this CPSC-sponsored bill would prohibit the sale of non-reusable or non-refillable propane cylinders. The bill would effectually require that all 1lb cylinders be reusable, just as 20lb barbeque tanks currently are.  

by the team at PaintCare, a PSI Partner

For more than a decade, PaintCare has operated manufacturer-led paint stewardship programs in states across the country that make paint recycling convenient. PaintCare is the nonprofit organization created by the paint industry through the American Coatings Association (ACA) to manage the end of life of architectural paint products in states that pass paint stewardship laws. The organization currently operates programs in California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. A new program in Illinois is currently being planned. 

PaintCare organizes year-round drop-off sites conveniently located throughout these states, where households and businesses can bring leftover house paints, stains, and varnishes for recycling. These drop-off sites serve a community need for easier recycling opportunities and keep paint out of the waste stream. The program currently provides a network of over 2,400 drop-off sites in the states where it operates. 

While convenient drop-off sites serve the public day-to-day, PaintCare also alleviates the burden of recycling larger quantities of paint – something that particularly impacts painting professionals. The program offers large volume pickups for anyone with 100 gallons or more of eligible paint. Since PaintCare first launched in 2010, it has arranged nearly 10,000 of these free pickups, making it easy for painting professionals to responsibly dispose of leftover paint, and keep it out of the waste stream.  

Overall, PaintCare has collected more than 70 million gallons of paint to date. 

“Households and businesses greatly benefit from the PaintCare program,” says Nichole Dorr, Vice President of State Programs at PaintCare. “It’s a common challenge for most homeowners, renters, and painters to have leftover paint with no easy solution in sight. PaintCare offers a convenient way to responsibly manage the end of life of your paint.”  

What happens to the paint once it’s dropped off at a drop-off site or hauled away during a large volume pickup? PaintCare works with waste transporters to collect the paint and manage it according to a hierarchy of “highest, best use,” meaning as much as possible is given away as-is, recycled, or put to some other beneficial use. PaintCare recently piloted a series of free paint giveaway events that provided thousands of gallons of leftover paint to communities in California and is considering expanding these to other areas. 

The statewide paint stewardship programs are funded by a fee (referred to as the PaintCare fee) which is applied to the purchase price of architectural paint sold in each state. The fee amount is based on container size and varies from one program state to another. It covers all aspects of the program: including paint collection, transportation, processing, and public education. This small fee means that those who purchase and use paint each help ensure a system to manage postconsumer paint. 

Learning how PaintCare operates allows for a more robust understanding of how the legislative process informs these state program successes. ACA’s government affairs team expertly navigate the political landscape in potential PaintCare states to form recommendations on possible program states as they forge relationships with lobbyists, stakeholders, and others with involvement in the legislative process.   

“The goal is to ensure each paint stewardship law is tailored to the needs of each state, yet consistent at its core,” says Jeremy Jones, Director of Extended Producer Responsibility at ACA. “Lawmakers and governors play a decisive role in shaping bills that become laws. However, we work closely with the wide gamut of stakeholders who can convey from their unique vantage point what becoming the next PaintCare state would mean to them. Everyone has a stake in a well-executed PaintCare program and that’s why it’s so important to build quality relationships up front.” 

 

PaintCare continues to build their network of drop-off sites and works closely with many industry organizations to increase awareness of paint recycling opportunities in program states. For more information about paint recycling, visit PaintCare at www.paintcare.org. To get involved in the legislative effort in the next PaintCare program, email Jeremy Jones at jjones@paint.org.  

by the team at PaintCare, a PSI Partner

PaintCare, the nonprofit organization that plans and operates paint stewardship programs in states that pass the paint stewardship law, is proud to celebrate one year in New York. The New York PaintCare program launched on May 1, 2022, and has been providing more convenient paint recycling in the state over the past year. To date, PaintCare has collected 727,000 gallons of paint for recycling in the state.

PaintCare operates programs in 10 additional states and jurisdictions including CA, CO, CT, DC, ME, MN, OR, RI, VT, and WA. In these states, paint recycling is made more convenient for households, businesses, contractors, and others with unwanted, leftover paint. In New York, there are 285 drop-off sites open year-round for paint recycling, and 2,450 drop-off sites across all program states. This resource benefits all community members and is available across the state, including in New York City.

To find a drop-off site near you, use PaintCare’s drop-off site locator to find the most convenient options to recycle your unwanted paint. PaintCare also offers a large volume pick-up service (LVP) for anyone with 100 gallons or more of paint, measured by container size, not liquid volume. These resources are available to anyone in all PaintCare states who wish to responsibly recycle leftover paint.

PaintCare keeps paint out of the waste stream by offering convenient ways to manage it by offering tips on using up leftover paint and providing drop-off sites and events in which communities and businesses can drop off unwanted paint. To date, PaintCare has collected over 64 million gallons of paint for recycling across the country.

For more information about paint recycling and to contact your local representative, visit PaintCare online at www.paintcare.org or call them at (855) PAINT-09.

Follow PaintCare on social media @WeRecyclePaint on Facebook and Instagram!

by the team at GDB International, a PSI Partner

“The Earth is not a gift from our parents, it’s a loan from our children.” – Mahatma Gandhi.

Last year, Earth Overshoot Day fell on July 28. Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity has used all the biological resources that Earth regenerates during the entire year. We know paint and coatings manufacturing is resource-intensive, so over 25 years ago, GDB Paint & Coatings set out to design several solutions to promote a net-zero paint industry.

Put simply, GDB gives new life to leftover and discarded paint. These solutions include taking a variety of materials that would otherwise be discarded as waste and reusing them in a sustainable manner.

Why is recycling important?

  • Recycling a gallon of paint can save the energy equivalent of a gallon of gasoline. Recycling paint needs much less energy than extracting and processing raw materials, as well as manufacturing new paint (PaintCare).
  • Paint recycling saves the use of natural resources, such as minerals and petroleum. Recycling one gallon of paint can conserve up to 8 pounds of virgin raw materials (US Environmental Protection Agency).

Where does the leftover paint come from?

  • The process begins by considering painters and DIY customers, who typically have leftover paint from domestic and industrial projects. This leftover paint makes up approximately 10% of the total paint used in the US annually.
  • Some of this leftover paint comes to PaintCare, a non-profit product stewardship organization created by the American Coatings Association. PaintCare works across US states that pass paint stewardship laws. The program has been established in California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Vermont and, most recently, Washington and New York. GDB is a PaintCare partner and receives some of the collected paint, where it is sorted, processed and remanufactured.
  • Paint retailers and hardware stores often need to dispose of damaged products and mistints, which would also be considered waste.
  • Paint manufacturers also contribute to this waste with their leftover materials. These materials include paint that isn’t quite the right tint or quality and leftover materials from the paint production process. The production process generates “wash water” used to clean mixing tanks and pipes, which contains residual pigments, resins and solvents.
  • Lastly, raw material manufacturers may have stock that is too old to use or is not the right specification.

What does GDB do?

  • GDB has a long track record of reusing pre-consumer, post-consumer and post-industrial materials, which includes those aforementioned materials. The company cleans out any impurities and carefully analyses and blends the materials together to create new high-quality, affordable and eco-friendly paint.

What’s the impact?

  • In 2022, GDB reused paint and other materials leftover from consumers, retailers and paint manufacturers to make 3 million gallons of recycled paint – enough to paint all the homes in Salt Lake City. This achievement has significant environmental implications, as it not only reduces the amount of waste going to landfills but also saves resources by reusing the materials that would otherwise be wasted.
  • In addition to the environmental benefits, this process also has economic benefits. By reusing leftover materials, GDB can reduce the costs of production, which translates to lower prices for the consumers. Furthermore, it creates a sustainable business model, providing a competitive edge in the market by positioning the company as an environmentally responsible and innovative player in the paint industry.

GDB reprocesses dozens of truckloads of leftover and discarded paint every day. It has been a success story, not only for the company but also for the environment. The company’s dedication to sustainable practices has proven that eco-friendliness and economic prosperity can go hand in hand. It sets an example for other companies in the industry to follow and encourages consumers to make conscious choices in selecting products that have a positive impact on the environment.

Get in touch!

by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, Marketing and Communications Director

2023 legislative sessions are now underway and many extended producer responsibility (EPR) bills were first out of the gate! There is an unprecedented momentum for these bills. Both Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have indicated their backing, representing an unprecedented level of support for the passage of packaging EPR legislation in these states.  

During legislative session, we monitor activity on bills requiring new EPR programs or amending existing EPR laws in the United States; this information is shared with our Members and Partners through emailed Legislative Updates and is also available to them in our Legislation Library. At press time, these are the bills that had been introduced: 

  • Battery EPR in New York and Washington; on January 17th, the District of Columbia enacted their Batteries and Electronics amendment. Our model EPR legislation informed the first EPR law for all single-use household batteries, enacted in Vermont, as well as battery bills introduced in states across the country from 2015 to 2020, and, in 2021, the first battery EPR law for single-use and rechargeable batteries, as well as battery-containing products, which was enacted in Washington, D.C. Learn more about our perspective on battery EPR by clicking here. 
  • Household hazardous waste (HHW) EPR in Vermont. Although no HHW EPR program currently exists in the United States, they have operated successfully in Canada since the 1990s: In Manitoba, collection volumes increased four-fold in the first five years of program implementation. PSI’s research fueled the introduction of HHW EPR bills in both Oregon and Vermont. Learn more about our perspective on HHW EPR by clicking here.
  • Packaging EPR in Maryland, New York, Washington, and New Jersey (originally introduced in 2022 and still active). In 2016, we developed our model packaging EPR legislation, then updated it in 2019 with input from industry and government. Maine and Oregon used our model to enact packaging EPR laws in 2021, Colorado followed suit in 2022 and, that same year, California also enacted legislation that was informed by our model. Learn more about our perspective on packaging EPR by clicking here.
  • Paint EPR in Missouri, which, if passed, would be the state’s first EPR law. Beginning in 2003, PSI convened and facilitated a multi-stakeholder dialogue that included participation and support from the paint industry, state and local governments, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and recycled paint manufacturers to develop a consensus model for paint EPR legislation. In 2009, Oregon used our model to enact the country’s first paint EPR law; since then, we have helped pass paint EPR legislation built on the same model. Today, there are paint EPR laws in 10 states and the District of Columbia. Learn more about our perspective on paint EPR by clicking here.
  • Mercury-containing lighting EPR in Washington. In 2007, PSI initiated a dialogue on fluorescent lighting that resulted in a national action plan on lamp recycling and contributed to the enactment of EPR laws in five states; we also partnered with rural governments in 13 other states to boost collection of lamps and other mercury-containing products. Learn more about our perspective on lighting EPR by clicking here. 
  • Pharmaceuticals law EPR amendment in Oregon. In 2010, PSI led a national coalition to pass the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act and change related regulations that made it possible for retail pharmacies to host drug take-back programs for unwanted medicines, including controlled substances. That year, we developed model pharmaceuticals EPR legislation with our national coalition; by 2012, PSI Member Alameda County had used our model to establish the first pharmaceuticals EPR ordinance in the country, which was upheld by the courts despite industry appeals. Since then, our work has helped pass pharmaceuticals EPR laws in eight states and 23 local jurisdictions. Learn more about our perspective on pharmaceuticals EPR by clicking here. 
  • Refrigerant-containing appliances EPR in Washington. In 2014, PSI provided research and policy analysis to New York City, which passed the first-ever law to safely manage refrigerant-containing appliances; since its passage, manufacturers collected more than 90,000 products and saved the city more than $1.3 million. PSI also helped defend New York City’s law against a legal challenge from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, and we contributed to the hydrofluorocarbons emissions reduction law enacted by Washington State in 2021. Learn more about our perspective on refrigerant-containing appliance EPR by clicking here. 
  • Solar panel EPR in Minnesota. Washington state passed the first state solar panels EPR law in 2017. In 2021, PSI helped develop the solar panels EPR law enacted by Niagara County, New York – the first such local law in the country. Learn more about our perspective on solar panel EPR by clicking here. 

We also expect to see introductions of additional battery, carpet, electronics, mattress, packaging, paint, and pharmaceuticals EPR bills and amendments in additional states. We appreciate the leadership of legislators and stakeholders who are leading the charge, and look forward to celebrating with our community when these bills become law. 

by Brendan Adamcyzk, Associate for Policy & Programs

PSI is a founding member of the International Paint Recycling Association, known as IPRA, and we’re proud of the impact numbers in their recent 2021 Annual Report. Three years ago, we developed the group in collaboration with recycled paint manufacturers and it is amazing to see how much it has accomplished in just two short years.

In 2021, IPRA members recycled or reused over 4.7 million gallons of paint, achieved a 71.4% paint-to-paint recycling rate, and supported more than 3,200 jobs in the recycling industry!

IPRA is the only organization dedicated to the recycled paint industry and works tirelessly to promote the essential role of recycled paint manufacturers in the circular economy. Nine North American recycled paint manufacturers make up the group — representing decades of experience in recycling post-consumer paint into high-quality paint and other recycled products.

Many industries were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on supply chains — and the recycled paint industry was no exception. Despite these challenges, member companies have actually expanded North American operations over the past few years, while also devoting time to testify in support of paint stewardship legislation in Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, and New Jersey.

In May, the latest paint stewardship program launched in New York, and IPRA joined forces with the paint industry’s American Coatings Association and the industry nonprofit PaintCare to promote the new program. According to Josh Wiwcharyk, President of IPRA and Loop Recycled Products, “IPRA remains proudly committed to advocating for increased recycling of paint and extended producer responsibility initiatives to ensure responsible end-of-life management for leftover paint.”

This question is one we continually challenge ourselves to answer so that we stay on the cutting edge of the U.S. product stewardship movement. As we embark on a new decade full of opportunity for EPR, we want to ensure that the research, projects, legislative models and laws that we craft continue to be relevant.

PSI reflects the strength of the individuals and entities who embody the movement. While we have evolved, we stay close to our inner core. We bring together multiple parties with diverse interests to develop comprehensive plans to solve big waste management challenges. We are problem-solvers who base our policy recommendations on sound science, experience, and peer review. We advocate for product stewardship solutions that are shaped by our long list of members and partners. We are systems thinkers who dissect problems and craft solutions from various angles – environmental, economic, technological, political, and communication with the public. We understand the big picture context as well as the individual parts of resource consumption problems. Above all, we have maintained an ethic of credibility and personal responsibility while leading the U.S. product stewardship movement for the past 20 years.

Members of the PSI team and the International Paint Recycling Association (IPRA) together at the 2019 North American Hazardous Materials Management Association Conference.

Like all movements, ours would not have taken hold without the energy, skills, and advocacy of thousands of people, including those government officials in the northwest – Oregon and Washington – who were the early pioneers. The success we have jointly achieved has required policy innovators in state and local governments who risked agency rebuke to forge beyond the status quo. It took corporate talent who leveraged their social capital to look beyond pure profit to engage with others. And it took environmental activists who could share an agenda with other players to achieve joint goals.

A panel at the 2018 U.S. Product Stewardship Conference

At PSI’s inaugural conference in December 2000, more than 100 state and local government officials from 20 states came to Boston to learn about a new concept for holding product manufacturers responsible for financing and managing post-consumer products. That meeting sparked a national movement.

Today, 119 EPR laws have been passed in 33 states on 14 products, and 2019 was a banner year for the U.S. product stewardship movement. A record 50 EPR bills were introduced in 16 state legislatures across the country. Of those bills, 12 passed into law, one committed a legislature to introducing a bill in 2020, and four mandated studies that include EPR as the central solution.

2020 promises to be a critical year for the movement. Packaging bills will be introduced or discussed in at least eight states, and EPR bills on pharmaceuticals, paint, carpet, mattresses, artificial turf, and batteries are already being actively debated. And PSI is right in the middle of it all. We now look forward to the future with renewed passion for progress.

On September 8-10, in Portland, Oregon, PSI will celebrate our 20th Anniversary at the national U.S. Product Stewardship Forum. We are already hearing from colleagues who plan to attend from across the U.S., as well as from Germany, France, England, and Chile. We will acknowledge our roots, assess the growing U.S. and global EPR movements, and plan for the next 20 years of growth. We hope to see you there.

 

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