| Illinois recently became the 11th state to launch a paint stewardship program. Beginning December 1, 2025, residents can recycle leftover paint (both latex and oil-based), primers, stains, sealers, and varnishes conveniently, keeping these materials out of landfills. Similar programs exist in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont, Washington state, and the District of Columbia. Maryland anticipates rolling out its paint stewardship program in 2026. According to the Product Stewardship Institute, U.S. residents generate more than 80 million gallons of leftover latex and oil-based paint each year. When dumped in the trash or down the drain, leftover paint can contaminate our environment with hazardous materials, but most paint is recyclable. Since 2010, paint EPR programs have recycled over 72% of collected latex paint nationwide and saved governments and taxpayers nearly $300 million. The Illinois program is operated by the nonprofit organization PaintCare, and a collection network of over 250 drop-off sites across IL is anticipated. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency oversees the program, while PaintCare handles the collection, logistics, and processing of materials, as well as public education. The program is partially funded by fees applied to the purchase price of containers of new paint sold within the state. Those fees range from $0 to $1.95, depending on the size of the container (containers that hold a half pint or less do not have a fee added). There is no fee to drop off unused paint for recycling at participating locations. To find a drop-off location near you, visit https://www.paintcare.org/drop-off-sites/ and enter your zip code. All PaintCare sites accept up to 5 gallons per visit (some will accept more). Residents should call ahead to confirm business hours and whether the location can accept the type and amount of paint they would like to recycle. Sites do not accept aerosols (spray paint), leaking, unlabeled, or empty containers. Aerosol paints are considered household hazardous wastes (HHW) and should be taken to HHW collection sites or events in your area. See https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/waste-management/waste-disposal/household-hazardous-waste/collections.html. An additional permanent HHW disposal facility is being planned for Champaign County. To learn more about paint stewardship in Illinois, visit the Illinois Product Stewardship Council website. To learn more about paint stewardship efforts across the U.S., visit the Product Stewardship Institute website. |
