Dive Brief:
- Illinois is now the 11th state to roll out a paint stewardship program. As of Dec. 1, residents can recycle leftover paint, stain and varnish at various drop-off sites around the state.
- PaintCare, a nonprofit organization created by paint companies through the American Coatings Association, operates the program. It will manage a collection network of over 250 drop-off sites through partnerships with paint and hardware retail stores and local government facilities.
- The new program is expected to manage about 1 million gallons of paint in its first year, according to PaintCare. The program is funded in part by a fee on new paint sales, with costs ranging between 45 cents and $1.95, depending on container size.
Dive Insight:
Paint stewardship is the latest in a series of recent producer responsibility program updates for various materials in Illinois. The state’s battery EPR law, which encompasses most small and medium portable batteries including lithium-ion batteries, takes effect on Jan. 1. That law received widespread support from haulers and recyclers.
Illinois is also in the process of undergoing a statewide recycling needs assessment, which is widely seen as a precursor to potentially adopting an extended producer responsibility for packaging law later on. The report is due to the state legislature by Dec. 1, 2026, with a draft expected sometime in June.
"The launch of the PaintCare program represents an important step forward in expanding crucial recycling options for Illinois households and businesses," said James Jennings, director of the Illinois EPA, in a statement.
Illinois passed its paint stewardship law in 2023. It joins 10 other states, plus the District of Columbia, that already have a similar program: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Maryland plans to roll out its program sometime in 2026.
More state legislatures seek to pass laws to adopt similar programs in 2026, including New Hampshire and Missouri. PaintCare says it has managed about 85 million gallons of paint, stain, and varnish nationally through these programs. It manages the collected paint according to a policy of "highest, best use," the organization says. Often, that means finding ways to reuse the collected paint or recycle it.
The Illinois EPA oversees the state’s program, while PaintCare manages paint collection, transportation, processing and public education. The law calls for ensuring that 90% of state residents have a convenient collection site, service or event within a 15-mile radius. It also calls for public education to reduce paint waste, and encourages residents and recyclers to find ways to reuse paint.
“Illinois paint and hardware retailers, along with local government facilities, are essential partners in this effort," said Ross Dudzik, Illinois program manager at PaintCare, in a statement. "Their willingness to volunteer space and serve as convenient drop-off locations is truly the backbone of this program.”
When Illinois’ paint stewardship legislation passed in 2023, it received broad support from the Illinois EPA, Illinois Product Stewardship Council, the Product Stewardship Institute and a range of local solid waste boards, environmental groups and municipalities. The groups see the law as a way to add more circular economy initiatives in the state, offer easier recycling options and provide jobs for recyclers.
The nation’s first paint stewardship law was established in Oregon in 2007. The Product Stewardship Institute helped convene more than 300 stakeholders as part of that engagement process, said CEO Scott Cassel in a statement.
"As the newest of 12 PaintCare programs, Illinois joins a proven framework that makes paint recycling convenient for residents and reduces costs for local governments," he said.
