DuPage County launches paint-recycling network and expands seasonal collection planning

County staff reported several operational updates intended to expand resident access to recycling services.

Joy, an environmental staff member, said a paint-recycling program launched the previous day with 29 participating locations across DuPage County where residents and businesses can drop off paint for free. Major retailers participating include Ace Hardware, Sherwin-Williams and JC Licht. "We now have 29 locations in DuPage County where residents and businesses are going to be able to recycle their paint for free," Joy said, and staff said the county will be able to dispose of county-generated paint through the program.

Public comment earlier in the meeting from Kaye McKean highlighted recent community events and collection numbers: the pumpkin-smash program expanded to 125 registered towns nationwide, 24 DuPage towns participated and participating towns that reported totals documented over 94,000 pounds collected. McKean also said Elmhurst received two pallets of cooking oil at a recent collection and that Downers Grove operates a daily cooking-oil drop-off.

On holiday collection planning, staff and public comments noted an equity gap: apartment and condo residents typically cannot buy curb stickers, so the county is coordinating with townships to provide drop-off locations for Christmas-tree recycling for unincorporated residents and multi-family households; dates will be posted when townships confirm schedules.

During Q&A a participant asked whether recycled paint is mixed into a neutral gray; staff said recycled product lines now include a variety of colors and that recycled paint is for sale at many retailers.

The committee received the Baines recycling update by vote and adjourned with holiday well-wishes.