Ever wonder what to do with unused paint that sits in your garage or basement. I have and I’m never really sure how to dispose of it so the cans just sit and collect dust and actually pose a little hazard. Well ast week Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed into law the nation’s third program requiring paint manufacturers to safely manage leftover latex and oil-based paint from households and painting contractors. 

The law, Public Act 11-24, will increase opportunities for residents and contractors to recycle architectural paint, while saving significant costs for local agencies. According to a press release, the legislation was supported by the paint industry, and is the third law resulting from a multi-stakeholder negotiation facilitated by the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI). The first two laws passed in Oregon and California in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

Did you know that more than 609 million gallons of architectural paint is sold in the United States each year, 10 percent of which is estimated to remain unused. Underfunded municipal collection programs result in insufficient reuse, recycling, and improper disposal of leftover paint.

The new program in Connecticut, slated to begin implementation on or before July 1, 2013, will include the cost of safely managing leftover paint in the purchase price of new paint, and will set up an industry-led program to reduce paint waste, increase reuse and recycling, and safely dispose of remaining unusable paint.

There are more than 60 state producer responsibility laws around the country that require product manufacturers to provide for the collection and recycling of electronics, mercury thermostats, fluorescent lamps, and other products that cause unintended environmental impacts if not properly managed. PSI continues to work with other states pursuing paint stewardship legislation as part

Filed under: Corporate Responsibility, Environmental protection, Green Manufacturing, Hazardous Waste