PCA Articles

Established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), America Recycles Day aims to recognize the importance of recycling and its impact on the environment. According to the EPA, the current recycling rate in the United States is 32%, which is a significant increase from around 7% in 1960. These data suggest that consumers increasingly prioritize recycling as part of their daily routine and understand the implications on the environment. PaintCare provides an opening for this upward trend in environmental awareness through our paint stewardship programs.

PaintCare is the nonprofit organization created by the paint industry to operate its paint recycling programs in states that pass paint stewardship laws. America Recycles Day complements PaintCare’s objective to offer convenient recycling opportunities for households and businesses across the country. We currently operate 10 statewide programs and are planning to launch our next one in New York to begin in May 2022.

In these states, PaintCare provides convenient drop-off sites where households, businesses, and painting contractors can drop off leftover architectural coatings’ products like paint, stain, and varnish to be recycled at no charge (the program is funded by a small fee added to new paint purchases). Most of its sites are paint and hardware stores that are centrally located and open at regular business hours. Since the programs’ start in 2009, PaintCare has collected more than 50 million gallons of leftover paint for recycling through its 2,000+ drop-off sites. Visit our drop-off site locator to find a drop-off site near you.

America Recycles Day marks the perfect opportunity to learn more about paint recycling as well as the importance of buying the right amount of paint and using up as much of it as possible before recycling. PaintCare educates consumers to work with contractors and retailers to measure before purchasing paint products and plan correctly. This will decrease the number of trips to the store, and the trips to drop off waste afterwards! Encourage your clients to learn more about how to buy right on our website.

Additionally, PaintCare suggests using up leftover paint before taking it to be recycled. We encourage consumers to try their hand at a DIY project like painting picture frames or tote bags to add a splash of color to their home. Find our paint smarter tips here.

Painting contractors need no introduction to the importance of buying the right amount of paint and using it up to avoid having too much leftover. We know you have paint in storage that you’re hoping to use on your next job, and we have a system in place when you’re ready to recycle it. If you have 100 or more gallons of paint, you are eligible to receive a free pickup, called a Large Volume Pickup, from PaintCare. Learn more about this free service here.

Company & Author Profile

PaintCare is the nonprofit that plans and operates paint stewardship programs in states that pass paint stewardship laws. Through a network of over 2,000 drop-off sites, PaintCare makes it more convenient to recycle leftover paint and offers educational materials for those seeking information and guidance on how to buy, store, and use up paint for various projects.

Callie Yow manages corporate relations and external partnerships at PaintCare. For more information about the LVP pickup service or other inquiries, please contact Callie at cyow@paint.org