Dive Brief:
- Minnesota’s statewide paint recycling law took effect on November 1.
- Currently, 120 paint and hardware stores have enrolled in the program, with “dozens” more expected to participate by the summer.
- While manufacturers are responsible for paying the costs associated with the paint collection program, they have passed the cost to consumers in the form of fees, ranging from $0.35 cents to $1.60, depending on the size of the container.
Dive Insight:
Paint recycling is a burgeoning trend in the United States. In 2013, Oregon became the first state to pass a law mandating the collection and recycling of paint. And Vermont’s Paint Stewardship program collected over 38,000 gallons within a four month timeframe.
Minnesota joins other states across the country, including Maine, California, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, in establishing a paint stewardship law. The law, crafted by the Minnesota legislature, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and various retailers and paint manufacturers, carries with it a $6.8 million price tag stemming from administrative, collection, transportation, and recycling expenses incurred annually.