Illinois Passes New Law for Statewide Paint Recycling Program

A new law was recently passed in Illinois which will open new recycling programs to help households and businesses dispose of old paint.

The new law was overwhelmingly approved by the Illinois General Assembly in late July and was signed by Gov. J.B.Pritzker.

Linda Holmes, Illinois State Senator, and chief sponsor of the new law said that more than one million gallons of paint will be managed annually under an industry-managed paint recovery and recycling program.

“It is exciting to offer this service to Illinoisans with old paint taking up space in their homes,” said Holmes (D-Aurora).

The paint recycling program is set to go into effect in 2025 and will offer hundreds of locations for residents to drop off paint throughout the state at drop off locations at no cost. Funding for this program will be including the cost of new paint.

Illinois becomes the 11th state to take part in this type of program. PaintCare, a nonprofit organization created by the paint industry through American Coatings Association, will manage the program.

“Consumers will now have the opportunity to declutter their homes of old paint and feel confident that their waste is being recycled and disposed of in an environmentally sustainable way,” Holmes said.

“We look forward to building on more than 10 years of experience in other states to launch a program in Illinois that simultaneously works for the paint industry and meets public demand for convenience, efficiency, and cost effectiveness,” said Heidi McAuliffe, vice president of government affairs for the American Coatings Association (ACA).

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