Household paint recycling program one step closer with new Holmes law

SPRINGFIELD - Homeowners throughout Illinois can look forward to getting unused household paint out of their garage or basement to designated collection centers for safe disposal soon. Legislation led by State Senator Linda Holmes sets out a process for regulators to propose and adopt specific regulations for the state's upcoming paint recycling program, expected to begin operations in 2025.

The Paint Stewardship Act became law early this year, founding a program for Illinois to manage collecting, transporting and disposing unused household paint. Senate Bill 839 is the next stage for the program: setting rules and roles for state and federal regulators to allow Illinois consumers to begin dropping off paint at established collection points.PaintCare Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, represents paint manufacturers and works with states and jurisdictions that pass paint stewardship laws.

"This law moves us closer to a day next year when homeowners can begin dropping off their old paint at PaintCare's collection sites," said Holmes (D-Aurora). "Over time, at least 90% of Illinois residents will have a collection site, service or event within a 15-mile radius of their home free of charge. Getting these cans of unused paint out of our basements and garages will protect our state's soil and water to continue growing crops to feed the state and nation."

SB 839 also mandates employee training and shipping standards for hazardous paint.

Working through the Paint Producer Stewardship Initiative, The American Coatings Association supported passage of the nation's first paint stewardship law in Oregon and established PaintCare in 2009. Most drop-off sites are paint retailers, with convenient locations open year-round. Across the PaintCare programs, there are more than 2,400 drop-off sites, most of which are paint retailers. To date, PaintCare has collected 71 million gallons of paint and provided 10,614 large volume pickups in ten states.

Senate Bill 839 takes effect Jan 1, 2025.