(PAINT.ORG) The New York Senate Environmental Conservation Committee approved legislation that would establish the PaintCare® program in that state, if enacted. The Senate bill, S. 881, which is sponsored by Sen. Tom O'Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), would mandate the industry-sponsored paint stewardship program and reduce a costly burden on local governments that are currently responsible for collecting and disposing of most post-consumer, unused paint.
In New York, the legislation has received strong support on the Senate side over the past two years — it received unanimous Senate approval in 2016; but a companion bill in the Assembly, A. 1038, sponsored by Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Syracuse) has not fared as well. That bill is currently awaiting action by the Assembly's Environmental Conservation Committee.
Since 2008, Oregon, California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Minnesota, Maine, Colorado, and the District of Columbia have enacted the ACA- and industry-conceived platform for the proper and effective management of post-consumer paint.
O'Mara, who chairs the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said that the legislation would create local jobs, provide relief to local property taxpayers, and encourage environmentally sound recycling and disposal of unused paint in New York State. He pointed to the initiative as an example of how government and industry can work together to implement effective environmental policies and programs.
"This legislation exemplifies how much we can accomplish by working together with industry on important environmental concerns. Seeking common ground and cooperation, rather than government cramming unreasonable demands down the throat of industry, can help give New York State a more business-friendly environment and actually result in better, more workable laws," O'Mara said. "Working together can go a long way on reaching an end result on other important issues that would benefit our state fiscally, economically and environmentally. The Assembly Democratic leadership should take action this session."
The Product Stewardship Institute has estimated that approximately 3.1 million gallons of paint go unused each year in New York State — with the costs of collecting and managing the paint's disposal mostly falling on local governments. According to Sen. O'Mara, the legislation, through which paint manufacturers would be responsible for managing the recycling and disposal of unused paint, would save local governments approximately $25 million annually. Read full at http://www.paint.org/new-york-paintcare-bill/
