A number of Connecticut retailers today will begin accepting used paint cans under a new program passed by the state legislature in 2011.
Residents will be able to drop off unwanted paint cans at participating paint and hardware stores, transfer stations and municipal locations. The program will be funded by a 75-cent surcharge on customers buying a gallon of paint.
State Sen. Ed Meyer (D-Guilford), who sponsored the bill with State Rep. Patricia Widlitz (D-Guilford), said in an announcement Friday that he came up with the idea after a transfer station in his community refused to accept his used paint cans.
“The difficulties with disposing of old and unwanted cans of paint will be a thing of the past thanks to this new program,” Meyer said. “The current system for disposing of paint in this state has been overly expensive and environmentally disastrous.”
Previously, paint disposal has relied on municipal hazardous waste collection events.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has projected the program will cut emissions of toxic paint fumes by 32 percent statewide and will save municipalities $700,000.
