Elected officials and paint industry leaders gathered at the Miller Senate Office Building in Annapolis for a press conference celebrating the launch of Maryland鈥檚 newest recycling program, which enables households and businesses to recycle leftover paint, stain, and varnish conveniently and sustainably. The program is operated by PaintCare, a nonprofit organization created by paint companies through the American Coatings Association听(ACA) to manage leftover paint in states that have enacted paint stewardship laws. PaintCare鈥檚 program, which officially starts operations in Maryland on April 1, 2026, will feature a robust network of convenient, close-to-home paint drop-off locations, including paint and hardware retail stores and local government facilities.
Maryland鈥檚 paint recycling program was made possible under the paint stewardship law听that passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore in 2024. Under this law, paint manufacturers are required to develop and implement a cost-effective paint stewardship program that will reduce the generation of leftover paint, promote paint reuse and recycling, and manage the postconsumer paint waste stream using environmentally sound management practices. Oversight for the state鈥檚 program will be provided by the Maryland Department of the Environment听(MDE).
According to Michael W. Johnson, President and CEO, American Coatings Association, 鈥淲ednesday鈥檚 launch of PaintCare in Maryland highlights the coatings industry鈥檚 proactive approach to sustainability. We鈥檙e proud to see this proven program expand, giving more states and consumers access to a smarter way to manage leftover paint. What truly sets PaintCare apart is its year-round availability, which provides Maryland households and businesses with ongoing, convenient recycling options through strong collaboration among industry, government and environmental partners.鈥�
This morning鈥檚 press conference featured remarks from notable supporters of the legislation including Maryland State Delegate Regina T. Boyce, Maryland State Senator Benjamin Brooks and Maryland State Senator Chris West. MDE鈥檚 Director of the Land and Materials Administration听Rick Kessler, COO of the Product Stewardship Institute Amanda Nicholson, ACA President and CEO Michael Johnson and PaintCare Director of Eastern States Jacob Saffert also provided remarks on the program鈥檚 rollout in Maryland.
Maryland State Delegate Regina T. Boyce said, “Starting听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鈥檚 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鈥檙e keeping harmful materials out of our landfills, incinerators, and waterways while building a cleaner, more circular economy for our state.鈥�
Maryland State Senator Benjamin Brooks said, 鈥淎s the sponsor of this legislation, I am proud to see the Paint Stewardship Program officially launch in Maryland on April 1, 2026. This program represents a significant step forward in reducing waste, protecting our environment, and providing Marylanders with a convenient and responsible way to recycle leftover paint. It鈥檚 a positive outcome for our communities, our environment, and future generations.鈥�听
Maryland State Delegate Dana Stein said, “The launch of PaintCare is a tremendous milestone in the state’s efforts to increase recycling. PaintCare will benefit thousands of Marylanders every year, as they now have easily accessible locations to drop off used paint. Special thanks to the sponsor of the legislation establishing PaintCare, Delegate Regina Boyce, who worked very hard to get us to this point.”
From early on, the paint stewardship legislation was supported by a broad coalition of municipal and environmental organizations, including MDE, the Product Stewardship Institute, the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter, as well as others. PaintCare鈥檚 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.
鈥淭he launch of PaintCare in Maryland marks a milestone in advancing responsible paint management,鈥� said Amanda Nicholson, Chief of Operations, Product Stewardship Institute.听鈥淎s 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.鈥�
The new Maryland PaintCare program is expected to collect approximately 350,000 gallons of paint in its first year. PaintCare manages paint according to a policy of 鈥渉ighest, best use,鈥� which emphasizes making good quality material available for immediate reuse, recycling it, or putting it to another beneficial use if it can鈥檛 be reused or recycled. 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.
鈥淧aint and hardware retailers across Maryland, along with local government partners, play such a critical role in making this program possible,鈥� said Jacob Saffert, Director of Eastern States, PaintCare. 鈥淏y dedicating space and volunteering to provide accessible collection sites, they are helping build a convenient, statewide recycling network from the ground up. We鈥檙e excited to expand our partnerships and support communities throughout Maryland in safely managing and recycling leftover paint. Remember to always call ahead and ensure your local site is ready and available to accept your paint as we begin to onboard new partners.鈥�