A multi-criteria assessment framework of leftover paint collection programs using efficiency indicators

Paint is a common household hazardous waste in industrialized nations, but its associated management program is poorly documented and understood. This paper evaluates leftover paint collection trends in five Canadian provinces between 2012-2024 and ranks them using the TOPSIS approach. Three efficiency indicators (Reuse Efficiency, Recycling Efficiency, and Responsible Management Efficiency) were proposed to measure performance. Weights for these indicators were given following waste management hierarchy. Prince Edward Island possessed the highest collection rate (0.66 L per capita), while the other provinces ranged from 0.16 to 0.51 L per capita. Recycling is increasingly prioritized across provinces, but reuse and responsible management remain low, except in Saskatchewan, which achieved the highest reuse efficiency and responsible management efficiency, 19.01% and 29.36% respectively, suggesting sufficient facilities for exchanging leftover paint and available infrastructure for energy recovery. Saskatchewan had the highest overall ranking with a performance coefficient of 0.82 using the TOPSIS approach, with considerably better performance than other provinces in reuse, incineration, and energy recovery. More paint exchanging facilities are recommended. Unlike other studies aiming to quantify recycling, this study’s focus is on the development of reuse metrics and the analytical framework. The proposed leftover paint analytical framework utilizing the three dimensionless indicators can be applied in other jurisdictions to benchmark and compare the effectiveness of other household hazardous waste stewardship programs.