Architectural Paint

PaintCare

Vermont’s paint stewardship law requires the paint manufacturing industry to develop a financially sustainable and environmentally responsible program to manage postconsumer (leftover) architectural paint. Paint manufacturers established PaintCare, a nonprofit organization, to run paint stewardship programs in states with applicable laws. The program includes education about buying the right amount of paint, tips for using up remaining paint, and setting up convenient recycling locations throughout the state.

Paint is banned from the landfill in Vermont.

Why is it important to properly dispose of paints?

Paint is a mixture of resins, solvents, additives, and pigments. The two primary types of paint differ by their base liquid: oil or latex (water-based). Oil paints are hazardous, flammable, and give off large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to air pollution and can cause liver and kidney damage after long-term exposure. Older paints may also contain harmful heavy metals, such as lead and mercury. Latex paint is not as harmful to human health and the environment, if handled properly. 

Proper management of paint lessens harmful impacts on our environment and is a better use of resources than landfilling leftover or unwanted paint.

  • Latex paint can often be recycled into new paint and oil-based paint can be re-blended and used as fuel.
  • Do not dump liquid paint down drains or in the trash.
  • If you have hardened latex paint, check with your local solid waste management entity to see if it's ok to dispose of it in the trash.
  • Never throw oil-based paint in the trash, whether it is hardened or liquid. 

PaintCare Products. These products have a fee when you buy them and are accepted for drop-off at no additional cost:

  • Interior and exterior architectural paints: latex, acrylic, water-based, alkyd, oil-based, enamel (including textured coatings) 
  • Deck coatings, floor paints (including elastomeric)
  • Primers, sealers, undercoaters
  • Stains
  • Shellacs, lacquers, varnishes, urethanes (single component)
  • Waterproofing concrete/masonry/wood sealers and repellents (not tar or bitumen-based)
  •  Metal coatings, rust preventatives
  • Field and lawn paints
VT Recycles Paint
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PDF icon vt-brochure.pdf11.52 MB
PDF icon xx-factsheet-joint-outreach.pdf181.36 KB