[Month] [Date], 2016
New York Product Stewardship Council
1971 Western Ave., #1195 | Albany, NY 12203 | (917) 597-2119
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[Representative Name]
State House
Room [Number]
Boston, MA 02133
RE: Support For S.2109: An Act establishing the paint stewardship program
Dear [Representative Name]:
Each year, about 10 percent of paint purchased by Massachusetts residents becomes leftover, resulting in an estimated 1.57 million gallons of leftover paint per year in the state. If all this paint were to be managed properly through household hazardous waste (HHW) collections, it would cost about $12.6 million per year. As a realtor in [Municipality/TownName], I regularlydedicate time and energy to properly managing up to [XXX] gallons of leftover paint each year. This is only a small portion of the leftover paint generated in our municipality, much of which is managed by local government at a high cost to taxpayers.
As a Massachusetts-based realtor,[I/Company Name]strongly supportS.2109. This legislation would establish a convenient statewide paint collection and recycling program for all Massachusetts residents and businesses that is operated and financed by the paint industry.
Fortunately, S.2109 is actively supported by the American Coatings Association (ACA), which represents 95 percent of U.S. paint manufacturers. ACA’s support has been a key reason for the passage of effective paint stewardship laws across the country that have benefitted states financially, economically, and environmentally.
In Oregon, which has the country’s first paint stewardship law, the collection infrastructure increased from 15 HHW locations prior to inception of the industry-run program to 160 collection sites today. In Massachusetts’ neighbor state of Connecticut, collection infrastructure increased from eight to 142 permanent collection sites. This includes 106 retail collection locations– the most convenient option for realtors and other small businesses. In the past five years, paint stewardship legislation has been enacted in eight states, including Oregon, California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, and Colorado, and in the District of Columbia. Massachusettstowns can also realize significant savings while greatly expanding opportunities for the safe management of leftover paint for ourrealtors and residents.
Support for S.2109 would extend Massachusetts’ current product stewardship leadership to a fourthconsumer product, architectural paint. We urge your support for this important legislation.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Company]
New York Product Stewardship Council
1971 Western Ave., #1195 | Albany, NY 12203 | (917) 597-2119
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