OLYMPIA – Tonight the House of Representatives passed Rep. Strom Peterson’s (D – Edmonds) bill to create a paint recycling program under the Department of Ecology. House Bill 1571 is Peterson’s first bill to clear the House.
“This is about keeping paint out of landfills and giving people an easy way to get rid of the half-filled paint cans in their garages,” Peterson said. “Everyone uses paint — not everyone knows how to get rid of it. This bill makes that easy.”
HB 1571 would require producers of architectural (house) paint to participate in a stewardship program approved by the Department of Ecology to manage the disposal of leftover paint. It would also prohibit retailers from selling the paint of producers who do not participate in a stewardship program, effectively ensuring all sold house paint would be disposed of responsibly.
HB 1571, which passed on a strong 60-38 bipartisan vote, now goes to the Senate for consideration.