What should I do with leftover paint?
Tins of liquid paint should never be put in your bin at home, unless they are empty or contain only solid dried-up paint residue. When tins of paint from a wheelie bin are emptied into and crushed in the back of a rubbish truck, the paint can spill onto the street. You must never pour paint down your sinks and drains as it may pollute our water courses.
If you have unwanted paint, you can donate it through the Community Repaint Scheme. The scheme collects reusable, leftover paint and donates it for free to individuals, community groups, charities and schools.
Which recycling centres accept paint?
There are four recycling centres in Nottinghamshire that accept paint:
At all four sites there are specific containers to store donated tins of paint. Please speak to a member of staff on your arrival to ensure your paint is placed into the correct area of the site.
Trained site staff will sort through each tin of paint to check whether it can be put into the reuse scheme. Tins of paint suitable for reuse are labelled and stored on shelves in the Community RePaint Nottinghamshire container according to colour and type. Tins of paint that cannot be reused will be sent for specialist treatment and the containers will also be recycled where possible.
How can I collect free paint?
If you would like to collect free paint through Community RePaint, you need to book an appointment slot. There are slots available for Nottinghamshire residents collecting paint for their own use (Public) and a separate one if you are collecting paint on behalf of a community group (Charity).
Whilst we can’t guarantee what colours, types or quantities of paint will be available, there's usually a good range to choose from. Please ensure you speak to a member of staff on your arrival and they will accompany you to the paint containers and assist you with finding a paint tin.
As usual when visiting a recycling centre, please wear sturdy, closed-toe footwear. We suggest bringing bags or boxes to protect your vehicle when transporting the paint from the recycling centre. If you need to take your children and pets with you to the recycling centre, they must remain in the vehicle.
If you have any questions regarding the Community RePaint Scheme, please contact us at [email protected]
Which types of paint are suitable for reuse?
The following types of paint are suitable for reuse:
- Matt and silk emulsion
- Gloss paint – interior and exterior
- Eggshell and satin paint
- Kitchen or bathroom paint
- Undercoat - water or oil based
- Primer
- Masonry paint
- Varnish - water or oil based
- Wood stain
- Tile paint
- Floor paint
However, some paints cannot be reused in the scheme but can still be taken to the four recycling centres:
- Paint not in its original container
- Paint tins with a hazardous symbol
- Any paint containing lead
- Paint thinners e.g. white spirit
- Paint stripper or brush cleaners
- Wood preservative