About PaintCare

PaintCare is the non-profit organization that plans and operates paint stewardship programs in states that pass the paint stewardship law. PaintCare was created by the paint industry though the American Coatings Association (ACA) to manage leftover paint in these states, referred to as “PaintCare states.” PaintCare currently operates 11 programs in California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Two programs are currently being planned in Illinois and Maryland.

PaintCare organizes convenient, year-round drop-off sites where businesses and households are encouraged to bring leftover house paints, stains, and varnishes for recycling. PaintCare helps ensure the “highest, best use” for paint collected in the program, including giving away good quality material as-is, putting it to another beneficial use, or recycling it. Through its approximately 2,400 drop-off sites, PaintCare has collected 71+ million gallons of leftover paint in over ten years of operation. To find a drop-off location near you, use our online site locator.

Program Details

The paint stewardship program is funded by a fee called the “PaintCare fee” which is applied to all sales of architectural paint sold in PaintCare states. This fee covers all aspects of the program, including collection, transportation, processing, and public education. The paint stewardship law requires that all manufacturers add the PaintCare fee to each container of architectural paint sold in that state. To ensure a level playing field, manufacturers pass the cost of the fee to distributors and retailers, who then apply the PaintCare fee to the purchase price.

Information for Painting Contractors

In PaintCare states, painting contractors can benefit from many aspects of the program. When estimating jobs in PaintCare states, we encourage painting contractors to take the PaintCare fee into account by checking with suppliers and ensuring quotes include the fee. Let your customers know that the fee is included in your quotes and that it covers the cost of the paint recycling program.

Painting contractors can also benefit from the PaintCare program by using it to recycle leftover paint at no additional cost. Contractors are welcome to use PaintCare’s drop-off sites for small quantities of leftover paint. For larger quantities, you may take advantage of the large volume pickup (LVP) service at no additional cost. If you have 100 gallons or more of eligible products, measured in container size not liquid volume, you may be qualified to receive a free pickup.
Visit our website to learn whether you qualify for a large volume pickup. You may also fill out the online form or give us a call at (855) PAINT09 to schedule a pickup.