PaintCare's Recycling Program Comes to Brooklyn

Sponsored By Paintcare

PaintCare offers drop-off sites throughout New York where the public can take unwanted paint for recycling.

Created By Brownstoner

In an uncertain economy, innovative sustainability programs are helping both businesses and homeowners make environmentally responsible choices. PaintCare, a nonprofit established in 2009, exemplifies this trend by transforming how communities handle leftover paint. Working with paint manufacturers and retailers across the country, PaintCare has created a network of convenient drop-off locations that turn potential household waste into reusable resources.

“This kind of sustainability initiative resonates with today’s business owners and consumers,” said Andrew Radin, the New York State Program Manager for PaintCare.

Indeed, a recent survey commissioned by QuickBooks indicated that 95 percent of U.S. small business owners believe environmental sustainability is important to the future of the economy, while consumers increasingly seek out companies implementing sustainable practices.

For homeowners, PaintCare solves a common dilemma: what to do with leftover paint from renovation projects. Instead of letting partially used cans collect dust in basements or garages, residents can now bring their unused paint to local retailers for proper recycling and disposal. This free service helps declutter homes while protecting the environment.

The program’s success reflects a broader trend in community-based environmental stewardship. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 91 percent of small businesses believe in giving back to their local communities, with 93 percent taking specific actions such as encouraging employees to shop locally, donating to charities, or sponsoring local events.

This real and reciprocal relationship between company and consumer creates opportunities that larger centralized companies don’t always have. Small businesses, through their work and engagement with customers, become woven into the fabric of their neighborhoods. When they give back—whether through charitable work, environmental stewardship, or programs like PaintCare—they become community anchors, quietly powering sustainability with their actions and interactions.

In New York State alone, more than 360 hardware and paint retail stores and government facilities have joined the PaintCare network. These convenient locations, open year-round, make it easier than ever for customers to responsibly dispose of leftover paint. Now, more than 95 percent of New York residents live within 15 miles of a drop-off site.

A quick look at the PaintCare map shows some two dozen or more spots spread throughout Brooklyn.

The results have been impressive. Since entering New York in 2022, PaintCare has collected more than two million gallons of leftover household paint, stain, and varnish, ensuring these materials are reused, recycled into new paint, or properly disposed of to minimize environmental impact. Nationwide, the program has collected nearly 78 million gallons of paint, provided over 12,000 large volume pickups, and hosted hundreds of paint drop-off events.

“This may seem like a simple act of collaboration, but when business and community leaders come together toward sustainability and community betterment, it can drive a large-scale environmental impact,” said Radin.

“That’s a goal we can all get behind.”

Find your local PaintCare partner here.

[Photos via PaintCare]