[Modified on January 14 to clarify program costs]

If Gov. Chris Christie signs S-1420 (Beach), a bill sent to him last night after final passage in the state Assembly, New Jerseyans will soon have a way to recycle used indoor or exterior paint (five gallons or less) under a program to be administered and promoted by paint manufacturers.

The legislation requires paint manufacturers to “develop and implement a plan for an architectural paint
stewardship program that is designed to minimize public sector
involvement in the management of post-consumer architectural paint
by reducing its generation, promoting its reuse and recycling, and
negotiating and executing agreements for its collection, transportation,
reuse, recycling, burning for energy recovery, and disposal using
environmentally sound management practices.” 

In establishing collection sites, the plans would “use of geographic
information modeling, such that at least 90 percent of State residents
have a permanent collection site within 15 miles of their residence,
that permanent collection sites be established for every 30,000
residents of a population center, and that collection sites be distributed
to provide convenient and equitable access for residents within each
population center.”

Program costs would be covered by a ‘paint stewardship assessment’ added by retailers or distributors to the cost of each can of paint covered by the program.


Similar programs are in effect in Canada, California and Oregon.

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