07.12.11
Connecticut Governor Dannel 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 will increase opportunities for residents and contractors to recycle architectural paint, while significantly decreasing costs for local agencies. 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. More than 609 million gallons of architectural paint are sold in the U.S. 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 for 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.