Committee advances paint stewardship bill requiring producer-run recycling program

The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on Thursday released Assembly Bill 4965, which would require paint producers to implement or participate in a paint stewardship program to collect, recycle or properly dispose of leftover paint.

Supporters told the committee the proposal would keep paint out of landfills and place responsibility for post-consumer paint management on producers rather than municipal programs. Ray Canter of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association told the committee the association supports the bill and thanked the sponsor and the chemistry council for their leadership. ‘‘This is a good piece of legislation that solves an environmental problem without using taxpayer dollars and without additional regulation from your department,’’ he said.

Ben Graziano, representing the New Jersey Paint Council, said similar programs are operating in about 10 states and that those programs typically recycle or reuse about 85% of collected paint, with a small remainder needing disposal. Graziano told members the bill has wide support across industry and the recycling community and that past efforts reached the governor’s desk but were pocket-vetoed in prior sessions.

Alexis Bailey of Public Strategies Impact, speaking for the Association of New Jersey Recyclers, and Doug O’Malley of Environment New Jersey both urged the committee to move the bill, calling it a ‘‘win-win’’ for communities and the environment. Bailey said many residents have cans of unused paint in garages and basements with few convenient disposal options; the proposed program would provide accessible collection and recycling.

With no amendments and no questions from members, the committee voted unanimously to release AB4965 as referred.

Next steps: a released bill is eligible for further consideration in the full Assembly or Senate as provided by the legislative process.