PaintCare Illinois Hits Early Program Milestones in First Two Months

State and industry leaders gather to reflect on early results, highlighting long-term benefits of Illinois' newest recycling program

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, elected officials and paint industry leaders gathered at the Illinois State Capitol for a press conference highlighting the early progress of the new statewide architectural paint recycling program. Operated by PaintCare, a nonprofit organization created by the American Coatings Association (ACA), the program helps households and businesses recycle leftover paint, stain, and varnish in a convenient and responsible way. Just two months after its December 1, 2025 launch, the program is already seeing strong participation across the state with a growing network of more than 340 drop-off site community partners.

PaintCare's paint recycling program was made possible under the paint stewardship law that was passed with bipartisan support by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in 2023. This morning's press conference featured remarks from notable supporters of the legislation including Illinois State Senator Linda Holmes, who served as the bill's Chief Senate Sponsor. Illinois EPA Director James Jennings, American Coatings Association President and CEO, Michael W. Johnson and PaintCare IL Program Manager, Ross Dudzik, also offered insights into the program's successes to date, including the collection of an estimated 60,000 gallons of leftover paint during the first two months of the program.

Attendees of the conference included key advocates for the program including Walter Willis, Executive Director of the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, and Heather Presutti, VP of Operations for paint recycler GDB Paint & Coatings, among others. Scott Cassel of the Product Stewardship Institute was not able to attend, but a statement provided by Cassel was read by Walter Willis.

Illinois State Senator Linda Holmes said, "This program is a tremendous win for Illinois families, businesses and our environment. For years, residents have been asking for a simpler, more responsible way to dispose of old paint, and I'm proud to have sponsored legislation that directly responds to that need. This program will provide more collection sites than in the past; I believe more convenient access, as additional drop-off sites join the system, will be an incentive to families and business owners to safely dispose of leftover paint and free up space in their homes and businesses."

Illinois State Representative Natalie Manley said, "Today's event reflects how impactful policy can be when it's designed to work in the real world. Looking at the incredible collection numbers and partnerships to date, it's clear that the paint stewardship legislation is already making a strong impact here in our state."

PaintCare estimates its new Illinois program will manage nearly one million gallons of leftover paint in its first year with the help of its local drop-off site partners and communitywide events. The program has already signed on 345 partners, with more onboarding planned according to Michael W. Johnson, President and CEO of the American Coatings Association. The drop-off sites primarily consist of paint and hardware retail stores, but also facilities owned by local government and nonprofit organizations. These entities participate voluntarily collecting leftover paint during regular business hours to provide households and businesses a convenient, year-round recycling option.

"The remarkable turnout and enthusiastic support from local leaders today confirmed what we already knew—Illinois was more than ready for this program," said Johnson. "The collection numbers speak for themselves and serve as a strong indicator that the program is working, scaling effectively and meeting a significant need in communities statewide. The success is the direct result of focused leadership and unprecedented collaboration across policy, environmental advocacy, retailers and local communities. Today marks a major milestone and a strong foundation for what comes next."

From early on, the paint stewardship legislation was supported by a broad coalition of municipal and environmental organizations, including the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA); the Illinois Product Stewardship Council (ILPSC); and the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI).

James Jennings, Director of the Illinois EPA said, "Seeing measurable participation so soon after launch shows that Illinois households and businesses are responding to expanded recycling options. Programs like this play an important role in supporting responsible materials management and strengthening recycling infrastructure across the state."

Scott Cassel, Chief Executive Officer of PSI said, "Illinois is already demonstrating the strength of a paint stewardship program built on a proven model. This early retailer participation is accelerating access for households and businesses across the state. That kind of scalable network is what sustains these programs over time and supports more effective paint management at the community level."

PaintCare's Illinois program follows similar paint stewardship laws and programs in California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. A program is also currently being developed for Maryland. PaintCare manages collected paint according to a policy of "highest, best use," which emphasizes making good quality material available for immediate reuse, recycling it, or putting it to another beneficial use if it can't be reused or recycled. There is no cost to households and businesses when dropping off leftover paint for recycling. A small fee—called the PaintCare fee—is placed on the sale of new paint and funds all aspects of the program including paint collection, transportation, processing and public education. 

Illinois drop-off locations are easy to find by visiting PaintCare's online site locator at paintcare.org, or by calling PaintCare's hotline number at (855) PAINT09. According to Ross Dudzik, PaintCare's IL Program Manager, "Getting new partners up and running smoothly has been a major focus of the early rollout. PaintCare's field representatives are working directly with retailers across the state—supporting everything from onboarding to regular collection pickups—to make participation straightforward and simple from day one. That hands-on partnership allows the program to expand quickly while ensuring each new site is set up for success."

PaintCare sites accept both latex and oil-based architectural paint products, including interior and exterior paints, primers, stains, sealers, and varnishes. Products must be in original, non-leaking containers with the original manufacturer's label visible. Businesses, organizations, and households with 100 gallons of paint or more to recycle may request a free pickup at their location. Some restrictions apply. More information can be found on PaintCare's website at paintcare.org/pickup.

To learn more about PaintCare's program in Illinois, visit: paintcare.org/IL.

About PaintCare
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. Approximately 85 million gallons of paint, stain, and varnish have been managed by PaintCare in 11 states and the District of Columbia.

Media Contacts:
Abby Sklencar, PaintCare: 202-940-8214
Mike Martin, The Martin Group: 518-269-4503| X724

SOURCE PaintCare