Bill > S408

This bill establishes the Massachusetts Paint Stewardship Program, which aims to manage leftover architectural paint, defined as interior and exterior coatings sold in containers of five gallons or less, by creating a system for its collection, reuse, recycling, and disposal. Producers of architectural paint sold in the state, or a designated representative organization they form, must submit a plan to the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) detailing how they will manage postconsumer paint, which is paint that is no longer wanted by a purchaser. This plan must ensure convenient statewide collection, with at least 90% of residents having a collection site within a 15-mile radius, and coordinate with existing household hazardous waste programs. To fund these efforts, a "paint stewardship assessment," a fee added to the purchase price of architectural paint, will be implemented, with its amount determined by an independent auditor and approved by the DEP to cover program costs. Producers and retailers are prohibited from selling architectural paint unless their brand is part of an approved stewardship program, and educational materials will be provided to consumers about the program and the assessment. The program will begin implementation by July 1, 2015, and the representative organization must submit annual reports to the DEP detailing the program's operations, costs, and disposition of collected paint, with certain financial data protected from public disclosure.