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Paint Care Recycling Made Easy
Paints & Supplies

Paint Care Recycling Program

PaintCare Inc. is a nonprofit organization established by the American Coatings Association to implement state mandated paint stewardship programs on behalf of paint manufacturers in states that adopt paint stewardship laws. The Minnesota program is required by state law, but it is designed and operated by the paint manufacturing industry through the PaintCare organization.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What products are accepted?

These products have fees when you buy them and are accepted for free at drop-off sites:

• 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

Leaking, unlabeled and empty containers are not accepted at drop-off sites.

What Products are NOT accepted?

• Paint thinners, mineral spirits, solvents
• Aerosol paints (spray cans)
• Auto and marine paints
• Art and craft paints
• Caulk, epoxies, glues, adhesives
• Paint additives, colorants, tints, resins
• Wood preservatives (containing pesticides)
• Roof patch and repair
• Asphalt, tar and bitumen-based products
• 2-component coatings
• Deck cleaners
• Traffic and road marking paints
• Industrial Maintenance (IM) coatings
• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
(shop application) paints and finishes

How is the PaintCare program funded?

As required by state law, a paint stewardship assessment
(PaintCare Fee) must be added by manufacturers to the
wholesale price of all architectural paint sold in the state.
This fee is paid by manufacturers to PaintCare to fund
setting up drop-off sites for leftover, postconsumer paint,
and for the transportation, recycling, and proper disposal
of that paint. The fees also pay for consumer education
and program administrative costs. Fees may vary from
state to state. Effective September 1, 2017, Minnesota
fees per container are as follows:

How much are the fees?

Effective September 1, 2017, fees by container size are as follows:

$ 0.00 ─ Half pint or smaller
$ 0.49 ─ Larger than half pint and smaller than 1 gallon
$ 0.99 ─ 1 gallon up to 2 gallons
$1.99 — Larger than 2 gallon up to 5 gallon
$ 1.99 ─ Larger than 2 gallons up to 5 gallons

Who can use the recycling services?

Consumers bringing paint from their homes can bring
as much latex or oil-based paint as the site is willing
to accept.

Businesses (painting contractors and others) can use this program with one restriction: If your business produces more than 220 pounds (about 20-30 gallons) of hazardous waste per month, you may use the drop-off sites for your latex paint only but not for your oil-based paint. Contact PaintCare to learn more about this restriction.

How much paint can I recycle?

All Hirshfield’s drop-off sites accept up to five gallons of paint per visit. Some sites accept more. Please call the store you plan to visit in advance to make sure they can accept the amount of paint you would like to recycle. Make sure all containers of paint have lids and original labels, and load them securely in your vehicle. Take them to a drop-off site during their regular business hours. We’ll take it from there.

What happens to the paint?

PaintCare will make sure that your leftover paint is remixed into recycled paint, used as a fuel, made into other products or properly disposed.