TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator James Beach and Senate Environment and Energy Committee Chair Bob Smith, which would require paint producers to implement or participate in a paint stewardship program, cleared the Senate today.
“Disposing of paint in an environmentally friendly manner can be costly for municipalities. Paint is often the most prevalent and the most costly thing brought to household hazardous waste programs,” said Senator Beach (D-Burlington/Camden). “Requiring paint companies to organize and oversee this program would take a large burden off of municipalities.”
The bill, S-2815, would require every producer of architectural paint sold in the state to implement, or participate in, a statewide architectural paint stewardship program. The program would be designed to minimize public sector involvement in the management of post-consumer architectural paint.
“It is extremely important that businesses and residents have access to an environmentally-sound and cost-effective method for disposing of paint,” said Senator Smith (D-Middlesex/Somerset). “The only opportunities now to dispose of paint are hazardous waste collections days which are insufficient, inconvenient and costly for local governments.”
The paint stewardship program would aim to promote its reuse and recycling and negotiate and execute agreements for its collection, transportation and disposal, among other things.
The bill would require a paint stewardship program plan to be submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) prior to its implementation, and every year following its implementation they would have to submit a report of program activities to the DEP.
The program would have to meet certain standards set by the bill to ensure it is efficient and convenient for residents. The program would be responsible for determining an appropriate amount for the paint stewardship assessment, which would be applied to the sale price of all brands participating in the program to cover the cost of the program.
The bill was released from the Senate by a vote of 27-13 and next heads to the Governor’s desk.