Can You Recycle Paint?

Posted on 22/06/2020

It's a common scenario: you need to do some painting around your home, and have no idea how much paint you'll need, so you end up buying way too much, and don't know what to do with the leftovers, often it's found after a general junk clearance. You don't just want to chuck it out, after all you've paid good money for it, but you've probably got no use for it, so what can you do with all this leftover paint? You can always get a specialised rubbish removal company to dispose of it for you, but that seems like a waste. We share our top tips on making sure your unused paint doesn't go to waste, and doesn't have to be collected by a waste disposal team:


Use it for a new project

While you might not need your old paint for that DIY project you brought it for, it doesn't mean you can't find other uses for it. Maybe you've got some old furniture that needs sprucing up or want to do a bit of artwork for your home; whatever it is that's been lingering in the back of your mind, if you've got some leftover paint that would otherwise go to the rubbish disposal service, then now might be the perfect time to indulge yourself and get it done. No point wondering which waste removal company would agree to collect your old paint, if you can use it elsewhere after all.


Keep it on hand for future top ups

No matter how good your decorating work was, the reality is that at some point you are probably going to need to top up any painting work you did, and having the exact shade of paint you used originally will be a lifesaver. So rather than trying to recycle paint or leave it for waste disposal, you may be better off finding somewhere to store it for future use. Just make sure that wherever you choose, that you secure your paint tin lid to prevent it drying out, and that it's labelled so you know which room you used it in first time around, otherwise you might as well get the rubbish removal service to take it away, as it will be pretty much useless when you actually need it.


See if anyone you know wants it

Let's be frank, paint isn't the cheapest thing to buy, so we'd bet that if you ask around there will certainly be someone you know who will take it off your hands for a discounted price. Not only does this help them out, but it saves you the time of having to find a way to dispose of it safely, or store it when you're sure you won't need it again. And if they later decide that they don't want or need it down the line then it's up to them to find an appropriate waste disposal option for it, saving you all the hassle.


See if anyone you don't know wants it

These days there are plenty of ways to get rid of excess paint without calling in waste clearance experts, and one of the best options is a relatively new scheme called Community RePaint, where you can donate your unwanted paint, which is then passed on to someone who does want it, but perhaps can't afford it. This ways means that again you don't have to worry about the waste removal element of getting rid of it, and you get to do your bit for people in need. The only thing to be aware of is that there are some restrictions on what you can donate, so make sure you have checked the criteria beforehand.