PaintCare is a non-profit product stewardship organization and a project of the American Coatings Association. PaintCare's primary effort is to make paint recycling more convenient in states with paint stewardship laws by establishing drop-off locations where the public can take unwanted, leftover paint. PaintCare is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
PaintCare was formed to manage the first U.S. paint stewardship program that began in Oregon in July 2010. PaintCare also runs paint stewardship programs in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The District of Columbia also passed a paint stewardship law, with a program anticipated to start on November 1, 2016.
These programs are funded by a fee on the sale of each container of paint sold in the state or jurisdiction. Fees are based on container size and vary by state, as shown below.
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, & Rhode Island
District of Columbia (effective November 1, 2016)
Vermont
Funding supports setting up drop-off locations for postconsumer architectural coatings (includes paint, stain, and varnish) from households and businesses in each state with a program. Most drop-off locations are paint retailers. PaintCare also works with household hazardous waste programs and solid waste transfer stations to cover expenses related to paint transportation, recycling, and disposal of the paint they accept. There is no charge for dropping off paint at a PaintCare location. All sites accept all brands of paint, regardless of how old the paint is.
PaintCare also encourages households and businesses to find creative uses for leftover paint or to provide it to local reuse stores or non-profit organizations that accept paint along with other building supplies.