PaintCare announced the launch of a statewide paint recycling program in Illinois that enables households and businesses to recycle leftover paint stain and varnish through a network of local drop-off sites.

The program began December 1 and is operated by PaintCare, a nonprofit organization created by paint manufacturers through the American Coatings Association to manage leftover paint in states with paint stewardship laws. The Illinois program is expected to establish more than 250 drop-off locations through partnerships with paint and hardware retailers and local government facilities.

“We’re excited to bring PaintCare to Illinois, giving families and businesses, easy, year-round options for recycling leftover paint,” said Michael W. Johnson, CEO at the American Coatings Association. “This program showcases the coatings industry’s commitment to innovative, sustainable solutions for our communities.”

The program was made possible under Illinois’ paint stewardship law, which requires paint manufacturers to develop and implement a stewardship program to reduce leftover paint generation promote reuse and recycling and manage postconsumer paint using environmentally sound practices. Oversight of the program will be provided by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Ross Dudzik, Illinois program manager at PaintCare, said retailer and local government participation is central to the program’s success. “Their willingness to volunteer space and serve as convenient drop-off locations is truly the backbone of this program,” he said.

Illinois joins other jurisdictions with PaintCare programs including California Colorado Connecticut the District of Columbia Maine Minnesota New York Rhode Island Oregon Vermont and Washington. A PaintCare program is also under development in Maryland.