The Chautauqua County Department of Public Facilities is pleased to announce a new paint recycling program that allows households and businesses in Chautauqua County to recycle leftover paint, stain, and varnish conveniently and sustainably. PaintCare, a nonprofit stewardship program created by the paint industry, provides sites in Chautauqua County where households and businesses can recycle unwanted paint all year round. Local drop-off locations can be found by visiting www.paintcare.org/drop-off-sites . All sites accept up to 5 gallons per visit. It is recommended that residents call ahead to confirm business hours and ask if they can accept the type and amount of paint they would like to recycle.
Sites do not accept aerosols (spray paint), leaking, unlabeled, or empty containers. Businesses, organizations, and households with 100 gallons or more can request a free large volume pickup by visiting https://www.paintcare.org/lvp-request/ or by calling PaintCare at (855) PAINT09. Chautauqua County joins a new paint recovery effort that is part of a larger statewide program managed by PaintCare, a nonprofit organization created by the paint industry through the American Coatings Association (ACA) to manage leftover paint in states that have enacted paint stewardship laws. PaintCare plans to expand to more than 250 drop-off sites across New York State in the coming months through partnerships with paint retail stores.
“The new PaintCare program helps our community reduce waste, increase recycling, and minimize governmental costs to handle and dispose of leftover paint,” said Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel. “We applaud the local businesses that have joined with PaintCare to make it easy for residents and businesses to recycle paint all year long.”
New York’s paint recycling program comes in the wake of a paint stewardship law that was passed by the State Legislature in 2019. The law ensures that everyone who produces, sells, and uses paint works together to minimize, reuse, and recycle unwanted paint. PaintCare has launched successful programs across the country following passage of similar laws in California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. “We’re glad to expand our paint stewardship program into Chautauqua County so that households, businesses, and schools can easily dispose of paint responsibly and sustainably,” said Andrew Radin, PaintCare’s New York State Program Manager. “We’re grateful for the important role that our partners in Chautauqua County play in making sure this initiative is successful. We look forward to adding new sites in the coming months as we roll the program out across the state.”