PaintCare marks fifth anniversary of state recycling program with an estimated 4.7M gallons collected

PaintCare, the nonprofit organization that operates Washington's paint stewardship program, has released its annual report, sharing that households and businesses dropped off a total of 1,061,821 gallons of leftover paint for recycling in 2025, a nearly 6% increase from the year prior. The report reflects Washington’s continued investment in responsible paint management and disposal practices.

“We’d like to thank everyone in Washington who helped us collect more than 1 million gallons of paint last year, and an estimated 4.7 million gallons since launching our recycling program in 2021,” said Lauren Scher, PaintCare’s Washington Program Manager. “Together, we’re keeping valuable materials out of landfills and giving new life to products that can be reused and recycled in communities throughout the state.”

PaintCare’s Washington program is a product of the state’s paint stewardship law which was passed in 2019. The law ensures that everyone who produces, sells, and uses paint works together to manage its entire life cycle. The program launched on April 1, 2021.

By focusing on accessibility and community engagement, PaintCare makes it easy for Washingtonians to recycle their paint responsibly. PaintCare’s Washington program currently has more than 290 year-round paint drop-off sites, including paint retailers, household hazardous waste facilities, and reuse stores.

In 2025, 97.9% of Washington residents lived within 15 miles of a drop-off site. In addition to drop-off locations, PaintCare offers free direct pickups to businesses, organizations, and households with 100 gallons or more of unused or leftover paint.

PaintCare’s success in Washington is due to the support that it receives from local retailers, partners, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and participating households and businesses. PaintCare works with these partners to ensure that as much paint as possible is reused, recycled, or disposed of responsibly.

“It’s incredible to see communities statewide engaging with paint reuse and recycling,” continued Scher. “The continued growth of this program shows that Washingtonians want convenient, responsible ways to manage leftover paint, and we’re committed to providing that service.”

PaintCare is a nonprofit organization created by paint companies through the American Coatings Association to manage leftover paint in states that have enacted paint stewardship laws. The program is funded through a nominal fee added to the price of all paint sold in Washington, making it completely free to donate or drop off extra paint for recycling.

Drop-off sites accept all brands of paint, regardless of when or which Washington store it was purchased. This includes house paints, primers, stains, sealers, and clear top coatings (varnish and shellac). For more information on PaintCare or to find a local drop-off site, visit www.paintcare.org/WA.

Reports and documents about the Washington program can be found at www.paintcare.org/washington-official-docs/#annual-reports

About PaintCare Washington

PaintCare is committed to making it easy and convenient for households, businesses, and institutions to recycle postconsumer (leftover) paint in states with paint stewardship laws. A nonprofit organization created by paint companies, PaintCare sets up drop-off locations for leftover paint, arranges for recycling and proper disposal, and conducts public education. An estimated 4.7 million gallons of paint, stain, and varnish have been managed by PaintCare’s Washington program since its launch in 2021. For additional information, visit www.paintcare.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram @WeRecyclePaint.

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