A wider range of paint product types will be able to be collected for recycling in California thanks to a new bill passed at the end of last month. SB 1143 was signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom on Sept. 29, receiving support from CalRecycle, environmental advocates and the American Coatings Association.
PaintCare is a nonprofit organization representing paint companies that plan and operate stewardship programs for leftover architectural coatings in states with stewardship laws. First initiated in the state in 2012, the program provides a network of drop-off sites where households and businesses can recycle their leftover paint.
Sites include paint retailers, local government-run waste collection facilities, material reuse stores, recycling centers and more. PaintCare reportedly partners with waste processors to ensure collected paint is reused as-is, recycled into new paint or put to some other beneficial use whenever possible.
With the signing of the new bill, the program’s covered products will be expanded to include additional nonindustrial coatings and coating-related products. Last year, another industry-supported California law added aerosol coatings to the list of products that PaintCare will manage.
However, under SB 1143, the timeline for adding aerosol coatings has been merged with the additional coatings product categories and extended to 2028 to streamline regulatory processes and program implementation. Implementation plans are reportedly under development and are pending approval by CalRecycle.
“We’re looking forward to making PaintCare a more universal stewardship program for California consumers,” said Marjaneh Zarrehparvar, President of PaintCare. “With over a decade of success operating the state’s architectural coatings program, we have a strong foundation and the right partners to manage nearly all leftover paint products in the state.”
“The changes to PaintCare’s program under SB 1143 are the result of collaboration with lawmakers, stakeholders, and all those interested in ensuring all coatings and related products can be properly managed through PaintCare’s existing network,” said ACA President and CEO Andy Doyle. “This new law is a win-win: it will help to protect the environment and provide convenient end-of-life management access for consumers.”
