Paint recycling bill passed

A pilot program designed to make it easier for Minnesotans to recycle their old and unused paint is still being stirred to get the proper mix.

HF4051/SF3775*, sponsored by Rep. Brita Sailer (DFL-Park Rapids) and Sen. John Doll (DFL-Burnsville), would establish a program whereby manufacturers would be responsible for recycling discarded architectural paint. The bill was passed 73-54 by the House on April 24. The Senate, which passed a different version 63-1 on April 10, refused to concur with the House changes April 28. A conference committee is expected to work out the differences.

Because of the environmental impacts associated with the chemicals used in household paint, state law prohibits dumping paint in the normal municipal solid waste stream. Currently the responsibility for recycling the paint falls largely on counties, which pass the recycling costs on to their taxpayers.

“Managing paint through the Household Hazardous Waste Program … costs Minnesotans about $5 million right now. It is the intent of this pilot project to figure out a way to basically cut down significantly on the tax dollars that need to be spent to manage household paint,” Sailer said.

The bill would establish a non-governmental paint stewardship organization funded by a fee of no more than 30 cents per every gallon of paint sold to consumers in the state. Consumers could then drop off unwanted paint at their local retailer, where it would be collected and recycled by the organization. The program would expire in January 2011.

“This is a pilot project, so they’re trying out various things to find out what is going to work the best,” Sailer explained.

Opponents called the bill a “handyman tax” that put undue burden on consumers.

“You’re whitewashing a tax, Rep. Sailer. This is a tax on paint,” said Rep. Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove). “When we’re in a down economy, people want to sell their house. It’s hard enough to sell your house the way it is now. Now, you want to go out and paint your house … and we’re going to tax you for a gallon of paint you buy.”

Supporters like Rep. Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley) characterized it as a user fee. He said it would help take the burden off of the counties.

“I think that this is exactly the kind of thing that we want to encourage — for industry to step forward and work on ways to dispose of these things efficiently and safely,” Eken said.