Get Rid Of Those Old Paint Cans: NY Starts New Recycling Program

NEW YORK, NY — New York has introduced a new recycling program to make it easier for households and businesses to safely dispose of leftover paint.

"Paint products can harm the environment if not managed properly,” State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said while announcing the initiative. “New York State’s Paint Stewardship Program will simplify the process for those looking to dispose of paint by providing a collection network of paint retailers, local government facilities, and reuse stores at more than 300 drop-off sites across the state."

The law making this possible was passed a couple of years ago, Dan Shapley, Riverkeeper's Co-Director of the Science & Patrol Program, told Patch. "It's a wise thing for us as a society to think who's the manufacturer of a product and what responsibility do they have for disposing of it properly."

New York communities are overrun with trash and the pollution that emanates from the waste stream, he said.

The burden has been on the consumer, nor has government made it easy for households and businesses to dispose of used products that shouldn't go into the regular trash, he said.

Used paint cans and leftover paint are particularly difficult to manage, with few available options for reuse or recycling.

Now the New York State Postconsumer Paint Collection Program will accept leftover latex and oil-based paints and similar products at drop-off sites throughout the state. Funded by a consumer PaintCare Fee on the sale of all new paint in New York, the program will provide for continuous and convenient collection year-round and accept all program-approved products, regardless of the date of purchase.

Drop-off sites will accept up to five gallons per customer per visit, with some sites choosing to accept more.

Dropped-off paint should be in the original containers with intact labels that identify the product. Businesses, organizations, and households with 100 gallons of paint or more to recycle will be able to request a free pick-up at their location, though some restrictions may apply.

The PaintCare website has searchable maps for drop off sites.

Click here for a list of drop-off sites in the Hudson Valley and here for a list of sites on Long Island.

More information about DEC’s program can be found here and a complete list of products accepted can be found on PaintCare’s website.

New Yorkers are asked to call PaintCare sites before dropping off paint to ensure they are open and can accept the types and amounts of paint for recycling. New PaintCare drop-off sites may receive a large volume of paint in the first few weeks of the program’s operation. Sites are open and available year-round, so consumers do not need to rush to drop off their containers.

More information and a request form can be found on PaintCare’s website, where there are also tips for how to buy, store and use up paint.

Shapley said he was glad the program was beginning on a personal level, as paint cans have been piling up in his basement. "Now I can get rid of them responsibly — I'm happy about that as a consumer."