The New York State Postconsumer Paint Collection Program is underway, making it easier for households and businesses to safely dispose of leftover paint. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) oversees the program, which is operated by PaintCare to manage unwanted architectural coating products and provide for recycling or proper disposal.
Used paint is difficult to manage, with few available options for reuse or recycling. The program will accept leftover latex and oil-based paints and similar products at drop-off sites throughout New York. More information about the program can be found on DEC’s Postconsumer Paint Collection Program webpage and a complete list of products accepted can be found on PaintCare’s website.
Funded by a consumer PaintCare Fee on the sale of all new paint in New York, the program is expected to provide for continuous and convenient collection year-round and accept all program-approved products, regardless of the date of purchase. Drop-off sites will accept up to five gallons per customer per visit, with some sites choosing to accept more.
Dropped-off paint should be in the original containers with intact labels that identify the product. Businesses, organizations, and households with 100 gallons of paint or more to recycle will be able to request a free pick-up at their location, though some restrictions may apply. More information and a request form can be found on PaintCare’s website.
New Yorkers are asked to call PaintCare sites before dropping off paint to ensure they are open and can accept the types and amounts of paint for recycling. New PaintCare drop-off sites may receive a large volume of paint in the first few weeks of the program’s operation. Sites are open and available year-round, so consumers do not need to rush to drop off their containers. In the meantime, find tips for using up and storing paint to preserve its quality on PaintCare’s website.
Additional program information can be found on DEC’s Postconsumer Paint Collection Program webpage.
Photo of used paint cans courtesy The Green Project.
Excellent idea! Let’s hope the program will experience extensive public education prior to implementation and follow-up thereafter. Unlike here in Clinton County NY, where re-cycling has deteriorated over the years since Earth Day implementation decades ago. Law is now ‘suspended’ – i.e. NO penalty for NOT re-cycling the few items still listed and NO incentive to do so. However, we do IMPORT tra$h/garbage to our County landfill … which does NOT capture escaping methane for re-sale. Explanation is: there are no buyers. The trucks returning to originating trash locations run EMPTY. There are buyers where they come from … because there is a larger population which demands it.