Sort Out Your Unused Paint - then give it away

Did you know that the UK wastes 6.2 million litres a year? On average, every household in Britain has more than 17 tins of paint and other decorative coverings hidden away in cupboards, sheds and lofts (according to research by Save Waste and Prosper) and we don’t know what to do with them. It’s estimated that this unused paint is worth around £155 million in the UK alone.

Thrown away, paint usually ends up in landfill sites where its toxic components leak out and pollute waterways. Of course, using this unwanted paint would avoid this environmental cost. But what can we do? Well, there is now a national network of more than 40 paint recycling schemes across the country – encouraging people to recycle their unwanted paint by collecting it and redistributing it to charities and other community projects. Ask your local authority about schemes in your area and get down your shed – now!

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Discuss

  1. jc. jc.
    GB , 15 Aug 2005

    I have sorted out all the paint that we inherited and added to in our cellar – but i haven’t passed it on yet. can someone remind me to do this in september?

  2. SooCoo SooCoo
    Nottingham, GB , 04 Sep 2005

    Mmm – we’ve got a cupboard full – must remember to find out what to do with it.

  3. kate&ami kate&ami
    03 Apr 2006

    This was really useful as a clearpout of cellar revealed more paint than I am sure we have ever used – there were colours I had never seen before – to find a place to recycle try http://www.communityrepaint.org.uk

    We are off to leeds tommorrow with ours

  4. Parker Parker
    GB , 13 Jun 2006

    kate&ami, Thanks for the link to communityrepaint. I’ve just sent off an email to my local one asking for details. My first action as prompted by this site.

  5. Parker Parker
    GB , 10 Jul 2006

    Well, I started with a load of enthusiasm. Fired off an email for the local community repaint scheme and have heard nothing.

    Anyone got any suggestions on what other options there are for paint recycling?

    Thanks, Parker.

  6. Delaney Delaney
    13 Sep 2006

    Our local Play Association takes some unwanted paint and I also put it on Freecycle as there were some nice kiddy colours.

  7. Brian Brian
    Richmond, GB , 12 Oct 2006

    Do keep bugging you’re Local Authority as the paint is actually reused. We’ve managed to get our eldest’s school wall painted with a great big recycled mural – ( http://www.holytrinityschool.org.uk/tiki-index.php?page=EcoSchool ). Now I simply have to get my own act sorted out to take my paint to our recycle/reuse center (formally known as the dump.)

  8. cayzers cayzers
    Bristol, GB , 18 Mar 2007

    Thanks for the tip kate&ami. Looked up http://www.communityrepaint.org.uk (this should be on main page!) but there isn’t one (yet) in North Somerset. I’ve suggested it to the council, maybe others might like to do so with their local councils?

    Freecycle sounds a good alternative.