PaintCare Illinois program achieves early program milestone

Just two months after the launch of a paint recycling program in Illinois, officials and industry leaders say the program is already seeing strong participation across the state with a growing network of more than 340 drop-off site community partners.

Operated by Washington-based PaintCare Inc., a nonprofit organization created by the American Coatings Association, the PaintCare Illinois program aims to help households and businesses responsibly recycle leftover paint, stain and varnish.

RELATED: PaintCare to operate statewide in Illinois

The program was made possible under the state’s paint stewardship law, passed in 2023. It follows similar paint stewardship laws and programs in several U.S. states. According to PaintCare, a program is currently being developed for the state of Maryland.

State leadership and paint recycling industry leaders held a press conference to highlight early milestones of the program, including the collection of an estimated 60,000 gallons of leftover paint during the first two months of the program.

“This program is a tremendous win for Illinois families, businesses and our environment. For years, residents have been asking for a simpler, more responsible way to dispose of old paint, and I’m proud to have sponsored legislation that directly responds to that need,” Illinois State Senator Linda Holmes says. “This program will provide more collection sites than in the past; I believe more convenient access, as additional drop-off sites join the system, will be an incentive to families and business owners to safely dispose of leftover paint and free up space in their homes and businesses.”

The paint stewardship legislation has been supported by a coalition of municipal and environmental organizations, including the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Illinois Product Stewardship Council and the Product Stewardship Institute.

“Seeing measurable participation so soon after launch shows that Illinois households and businesses are responding to expanded recycling options,” James Jennings, director of the Illinois EPA says. “Programs like this play an important role in supporting responsible materials management and strengthening recycling infrastructure across the state.”

PaintCare estimates the Illinois program will manage nearly one million gallons of leftover paint in its first year with the help of its local drop-off site partners and communitywide events. The program already has signed on 345 partners, with more onboarding planned, the organization says. The drop-off sites primarily consist of paint and hardware retail stores but also facilities owned by local government and nonprofit organizations.

“Getting new partners up and running smoothly has been a major focus of the early rollout,” Ross Dudzik, PaintCare’s Illinois program manager, says. “PaintCare’s field representatives are working directly with retailers across the state—supporting everything from onboarding to regular collection pickups—to make participation straightforward and simple from day one. That hands-on partnership allows the program to expand quickly while ensuring each new site is set up for success.”

Illinois drop-off locations can be found by visiting PaintCare’s online site locator at www.paintcare.org or by calling PaintCare’s hotline number at (855) PAINT09.