House hearing on HB 451 spotlights industry-backed paint takeback plan

House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee members heard testimony on HB 451 on an industry-run program to collect and recycle leftover paint.

Representative Karen Ebel, sponsor of HB 451, told the committee the bill would establish a post-consumer paint stewardship program run by manufacturers and funded by a small surcharge at point of sale. "This bill would create a post consumer paint stewardship program," Representative Ebel said, noting she chaired the Solid Waste Working Group and had distributed the group's interim report to the committee.

The bill would let consumers and businesses bring leftover paint to participating retailers or municipal collection locations for recycling at no charge to the person dropping off product. Under the model used in other states, manufacturers create and fund a nonprofit stewardship organization (PaintCare) that develops collection networks, contracts haulers and processors, and submits a program plan for state review.

Why it matters: supporters said HB 451 would divert a large portion of household hazardous waste from landfills, reduce municipal disposal costs and…