Maine Paint Recycling Bill to Become Law

Maine’s paint bill will become law later this year, as the state’s governor allowed it to go into effect without his signature.

Gov. Paul LePage had until June 29 to sign the bill or allow it to become law without his signature. The law goes into effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns, which is expected to be July 9. Program implementation will begin in mid-2015, according to a news release from the Boston-based Product Stewardship Institute Inc., the Augusta-based Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) and the American Coatings Association, Washington.

The Maine paint recycling bill, LD 1308, passed by a vote of 28-7 in the Senate and 92-44 in the House.  It creates an industry-run collection and recycling program for leftover household paint.

The product stewardship program will provide used paint collection sites for consumers at participating paint retail stores and transfer stations throughout the state. The industry will manage the program, and it will be financed with a recycling fee added to the price of the product.

“This new law will build on Maine’s other successful product stewardship programs, which are helping keep toxic materials out of landfills and incinerators,” said Pete Didisheim, NRCM advocacy director.

Maine is the seventh state to enact a paint product stewardship program, following Oregon, California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Minnesota, and Vermont.

Industry data on Maine paint sales indicate the program could result in the recycling of more than 300,000 gallons of paint annually in Maine.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Tom Saviello (R-Franklin), also was supported by paint companies such as Sherwin-Williams, Behr, Velspar and Henry, and retail stores.