A new Maryland program is making it easier to recycle paint.
PaintCare began operations Wednesday with local partners and drop-off sites throughout the state.
PaintCare is a nonprofit organization created by paint companies to manage leftover paint in states that have enacted paint stewardship laws. The new Maryland PaintCare program is expected to collect approximately 350,000 gallons of paint in its first year. Most of the paint PaintCare receives is latex paint and is remixed into recycled content paint by processors. To date, PaintCare has collected approximately 85 million gallons of paint nationally.
Maryland’s paint stewardship law passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore in 2024. The law requires paint manufacturers to come up with a program to reduce the generation of leftover paint, promote paint reuse and recycling, and manage the paint consumers don’t use in an environmentally sound way. Maryland’s program will be overseen by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).
“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,” Del. Regina T. Boyce (D-Maryland’s District 43) said in a statement. “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.”
Paint stewardship legislation is broadly supported by environmental and municipal organizations, including the MDE, the Product Stewardship Institute, and the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter. Maryland’s law is similar to laws and programs in California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.
“The launch of PaintCare in Maryland marks a milestone in advancing responsible paint management,” said Amanda Nicholson, chief of operations for Product Stewardship Institute, in a statement. “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.”
PaintCare establishes drop-off sites at local paint retailers, which are centrally located and open during normal business hours. They also create drop-off sites at local government facilities. The sites are easy to find on PaintCare’s online locator, or by calling PaintCare’s hotline number at (855) PAINT09 or (855) 724-6809.
These sites accept both latex and oil-based architectural paint products, including interior and exterior paints, primers, stains, sealers and varnishes. Paint must be dropped off in its original container with its original manufacturer’s label. All sites accept products from any manufacturer. A full list of products accepted by the program is available on PaintCare’s website.
All sites accept up to five gallons of paint, and some may accept more. Businesses, organizations, and households with 100 gallons of paint or more can request free pickup, though some restrictions may apply.
There is no cost to drop off leftover paint. The program is paid for by a small fee added to the sale of new paint, which varies by container size. In Maryland, it runs $0.00 for half pint or smaller; $0.50 for larger than half pint up to smaller than one gallon; $1.15 for one gallon up to two gallons; $2.25 for larger than two gallons up to five gallons. This covers the cost of all aspects of the program including paint collection, transportation, processing and public education.
