ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The New York state Legislature passed a bill in 2019 establishing a statewide paint recycling program.

PaintCare New York launched last May. Program manager Andrew Radin said its first year has been very successful.

"Over 700,000 gallons of leftover paint has been collected and almost all of that is going to end up getting recycled," Radin said.

Orchard Park hardware store W.G. Arthur Company Incorporated was the first retailer to become a drop-off site. Now there are more than 290 across the state.

"It's been phenomenal," President Joe Wales said. "We have people coming in daily. They're super appreciative. It's a total feel good situation that we're in."

Wales said he enjoys the program because he knows it is helping people out and he's doing his part to increase recycling and reduce waste. The business does get another benefit as well.

"You're bringing people into the store that may have not been in the store before and introduce them to who we are and maybe they'll buy some paint or whatever while they're in the store," he said.

Wales said the program is relatively simple for the store as well. People can bring in up to five gallons, sometimes more, per visit and drop it off at no charge.

For more information go to PaintCare.org

"We put it on the cart. When the cart gets full, we put in the totes provided to us. We make a phone call and they're here within a week. It's absolutely flawless," Wales said.

Radin said the entire program is funded by a small PaintCare fee at the time of new paint purchase. He said while the first year has been successful there's plenty of room to grow with the organization estimating New Yorkers generate about 4 million gallons of unwanted paint every year.

"More and more retailers are joining this program every day because it's bringing people into the store, great customer service and really a way for the stores to demonstrate their commitment to the community," he said.

Radin said recycling operations turn the vast majority of the unwanted paint into new paint that can be reused. He said that business is growing as well with two new recyclers since the program started.