Bill > S2109

This bill establishes a paint stewardship program in Massachusetts, requiring producers of architectural paint (interior and exterior coatings sold in containers of five gallons or less, excluding industrial or specialty coatings) to develop and implement plans for managing postconsumer paint, which is leftover paint no longer wanted by consumers. These plans, approved by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, must ensure convenient statewide collection, promote reuse and recycling, and utilize environmentally sound management practices for disposal. To fund these efforts, a "paint stewardship assessment" will be added to the purchase price of architectural paint, with an independent auditor ensuring this fee covers only program costs. Producers and retailers must educate consumers about the program and the assessment, and producers or their designated "representative organizations" (nonprofit groups formed by producers) will be exempt from certain antitrust claims for actions taken under the program. The program's implementation is set to begin by October 1, 2017, or three months after the plan's approval, and the first annual report detailing the program's operations is due by October 15, 2018.