Annual report shows engagement from households and businesses in Oregon

Portland, OR. – May 8, 2024 –PaintCare has released its annual report for its Oregon program, indicating that 648,554 gallons of paint were collected from households and businesses for recycling in 2023. Oregon’s paint recycling program is led by PaintCare, a nonprofit stewardship organization responsible for paint recycling programs in Oregon, nine other states, and the District of Columbia.

“We want to thank Oregonians for helping us recycle nearly 650,000 gallons of paint last year and more than nine million gallons since the program was established in 2010. Recycling paint keeps it out of Oregon’s waste stream and allows us to find beneficial uses for it throughout the state,” said Lauren Scher, Oregon Program Manager, PaintCare. “With a focus on accessibility, community engagement, and responsible waste management, PaintCare strives to make it more convenient for Oregonians to recycle paint.”

In Oregon, PaintCare’s success is driven in part by partnerships with local paint retailers, reuse stores, and government facilities, providing convenient drop-off sites for leftover paint. Oregon had 187 year-round drop-off sites in 2023, with 98.1% of Oregon residents living within 15 miles of a drop-off site. PaintCare works with program partners to ensure “highest, best use” for collected paint, meaning that as much paint as possible is reused, recycled back into paint, or put to some other beneficial use. PaintCare works with partners to transport paint from drop-off sites to processing facilities, where it is remixed into recycled-content paint, made available as-is through reuse or giveaway programs, used as fuel, or in other applications.

Of the 648,554 gallons of paint collected in Oregon in 2023, 76% was latex paint and 24% was oil-based paint. Of the latex paint collected, 73% was recycled back into paint. Of the oil-based paint collected, more than 99% was reused or processed for energy recovery. This one-page infographic highlights the successes from the most recent reporting period (January to December 2023) for the Oregon PaintCare program.

PaintCare is a nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by paint companies through the American Coatings Association (ACA) to manage leftover paint in states that have enacted paint stewardship laws. In addition to drop-off sites, PaintCare also offers free direct pickups to businesses, organizations, and households with 100 gallons or more of leftover paint.

The program is funded by a nominal fee on new paint sales: 45 cents for pints and quarts, 95 cents for one- to two-gallon containers, and $1.95 for larger than two-gallon up to 5 gallon containers. The fee funds paint collection, transportation, recycling, retailer training, and public education in Oregon. All retailers must include the fee on their paint sales.

For more information on PaintCare and to find a local drop-off site, please visit www.paintcare.org. Reports and documents about the Oregon program are located at www.paintcare.org/oregon-official-docs/

About PaintCare in Oregon

PaintCare is committed to making it easy and convenient for households, businesses, and institutions to recycle post-consumer (leftover) paint in states with paint stewardship laws. A nonprofit organization created by paint manufacturers, PaintCare sets up drop-off locations for leftover paint, arranges for recycling and proper disposal, and conducts public education. More than 9 million gallons of paint, stain, and varnish have been managed by PaintCare’s Oregon program since its launch in 2010. For additional information, visit www.paintcare.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram @WeRecyclePaint.