Maryland’s recycling program for leftover paint, stain and varnish launched this week, with the estimated goal of collecting approximately 350,000 gallons in its first year. The program is managed by PaintCare, which has similar efforts in 12 states and the District of Columbia.
PaintCare is a nonprofit producer responsibility organization created by paint companies through the American Coatings Association (ACA) to manage leftover paint in states that have enacted paint stewardship laws. The program opened in Maryland on April 1 and allows households and businesses to drop off unwanted paint at numerous specific locations, including retail stores and government facilities.
The program was enacted through Maryland’s bipartisan paint stewardship law, which was signed by Governor Wes Moore in 2024. The law specifies that paint manufacturers must develop and implement a program to reuse and recycle used paint in the state. The Maryland Department of the Environment oversees the effort.
Maryland State Delegate Regina T. Boyce said at a press conference in Annapolis Monday, “Starting up a paint stewardship program in Maryland is a common-sense step that protects our environment, reduces waste, and makes it easier for Marylanders to responsibly manage leftover paint. PaintCare’s nationwide goal is to decrease paint waste and recycle more postconsumer paint by creating a convenient, sustainable solution. The implementation of this program means that we’re keeping harmful materials out of our landfills, incinerators, and waterways while building a cleaner, more circular economy for our state.”
PaintCare’s Maryland program follows similar paint stewardship laws and programs in California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.
To recycle used paint, stain or varnish, people can bring up to 5 gallons to a participating paint retailer or government facility, which can be confirmed at paintcare.org, or by calling PaintCare’s hotline at (855) PAINT09 (some sites accept more than 5 gallons at a time).
“Being able to partner with local businesses is incredibly important to us,” said Jacob Saffert, PaintCare director of Eastern states. He noted that, nationwide, 75% of the program’s dropoff sites are local retailers.
Participating sites accept both latex and oil-based architectural paint products, including interior and exterior paints, primers, stains, sealers and varnishes.
Material must be dropped off in its original container with its original label, and it can be from any manufacturer. A full list of products accepted by the program is available at paintcare.org/products. People are encouraged to call ahead to confirm the site is prepared to accept their materials.
Anyone with 100 gallons of paint or more can request a free pickup at paintcare.org/pickup.
There are no fees for dropping off paints. The program is funded by fees on sale of new paints in the state: $0.00 for half pint or smaller; $0.50 for larger than half pint up to smaller than 1 gallon; $1.15 for 1 gallon up to 2 gallons; $2.25 for larger than 2 gallons up to 5 gallons.
PaintCare manages the paint through a policy of “highest, best use,” meaning material is reused where possible then recycled into new paint, and finally responsibly landfilled, said Saffert. He added that about 80% of the latex paint collected is able to be recycled nationally, excluding reuse. Much of the oil-based paints will likely be sent for energy recovery through cement kilns, he said.
PaintCare has collected nearly 85 million gallons of paint across the nation to date, about 80% of which is latex based.
The organization also provides information to consumers on how to buy just the right amount of paint for the job, so there is less leftover to manage, said Saffert.
“As the newest PaintCare program in the nation, Maryland benefits from a well-established system built on a proven model that improves recycling access for residents and supports local governments in managing leftover paint more efficiently,” said Amanda Nicholson, chief of operations for the Product Stewardship Institute, at the Annapolis press conference.
Saffert added that “one of the reasons the PaintCare program is so valuable is because it is so convenient.” He noted that in states without PaintCare, the best way to go about paint recycling is to contact the city, county, or state and ask about proper disposal.
“I think it comes down to the fact that paint is a valuable resource, and we want to put it to the highest and best use,” said Saffert.
