How to Dispose of Paint Responsibly
We all have them, tucked away in the garage or at the back of the shed: the half-used cans of paint that you'll never use again, but you don’t know how to throw away old paint.
Whether you’re hanging onto extra tins to touch up the paintwork, fresh unopened cans ready for projects that never happened, or mostly empty paint pots left in the garage to congeal, the chances are that you just don’t know what to do with them all. If you’re finally getting around to disposing of used paint, here’s a comprehensive guide to getting rid of it responsibly.
What Kind of Waste is Paint?
Paint is considered to be hazardous waste because it relies on chemicals to work. Most paints are made from four primary components: a binding agent, solvents, fillers, and pigments. A range of chemicals fall under each of these categories, making paint a veritable cocktail of ingredients you wouldn’t want to end up in the landfill.
Repurpose Your Paint Cans by Donating
Instead of letting leftover paint gather dust in the garage, consider offering it to others in your community. By donating paint to neighbours or local community projects, you ensure it is used effectively rather than wasted.
Schools, community centres, and charity organisations often welcome such contributions for their renovation and art projects. Not only does this prevent waste, but it also fosters a sense of community and supports local initiatives.
You can also check out Community RePaint, a UK-wide network that collects leftover paint and redistributes it to community groups and those in need. So, the next time you find yourself with excess paint, think about the positive impact it could have if shared with those around you – and repurposing is always better for the environment as a first step of reducing waste and carbon emissions.
How to Discard Old Paint
Just as you can't pour paint away, you can't just stick old paint cans in the bin either. Like all liquid wastes, liquid paint is banned from landfill and therefore cannot be accepted by the council - you'll need to wait for the paint to harden before you can take this non-household waste to the local recycling centre.
To speed up the hardening process for larger amounts of paint, add some sawdust, cat litter, soil or sand to the cans and leave them to solidify. Once the paint is hard, you can take it to your local household waste and recycling centre to be disposed of appropriately.
For smaller amounts, pour the paint onto card or paper and leave it to dry before including it with your household waste, if accepted by your local council.
Where to Dispose of Fresh Paint in the UK
If you still have the receipt for unopened paint tins, you can take them back to the shop in exchange for a refund. Each shop will have its own return policies, so make sure to check them before you take it back! This is one of the most eco-friendly ways to get rid of fresh paint, as it increases the chances that the paint will be used.
If you don’t dislike the colour, but it wasn’t exactly what you were looking for, you can also find something else to use it on. Old wooden furniture, planters, the inside of your garage, or the guest bedroom could all be candidates for a fresh coat of paint. While wall paint won’t give you the best finish on wood, it’ll last until you get around to the project in future.
How to Dispose of Old Paint Tins
There are plenty of ways to dispose of old paint tins in the UK. If dry and lids removed, you can dispose of them with any of our three services; HIPPOBAG, a man with a van, or place them in a skip. The tins will be separated and disposed of safely at the other end of the line, and you can rest assured knowing your waste was managed sustainably.
If you don’t have much waste and prefer to do the legwork yourself, you can drive the dried out paint tins to your local recycling centre - it’s important to remember that even dry paint cans cannot safely be added to your general waste bin.
How to Dispose of Emulsion Paint in the UK
Similar to other paint types, emulsion paint must be treated with care. A recycling centre can only accept dry paint tins: if there is any wet paint left in the can, you cannot drop it off to be disposed of. Use the sawdust trick above or use a brush to paint the remnants of the tin onto a piece of cardboard or waste wood. Once all of the emulsion paint is dry, you can drop the tins off to be recycled.
How To Dispose of Spray Paint Cans
If your spray paint aerosol can is empty, you can dispose of it in the same way you dispose of aerosol cans. Around 60% of aerosol cans are made from tinplated steel and 40% made from aluminium, both of which are widely recyclable metals.
However, if the can is not empty at the time of disposal, it is classed as hazardous waste just like a normal paint can and must be separated from general household waste and recycling.
Ensure to empty your spray paint can before disposing of it in your general household recycling - if they accept aerosol cans - or at a local recycling centre.
What Happens to Paint Tins After Disposal?
You can recycle paint tins, whether they are made of plastic or metal, so they are made into something new. Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) will recycle your paint tins so the raw materials can be reused, ensuring they don’t simply end up in landfill. So, there’s no telling what your old paint cans could become!
If you’re cleaning out after a painting spree, old paint tins probably aren’t the only waste you’re trying to kick out of the door. Paintbrushes, stripped wallpaper, and paint trays could all be taking up space in your freshly painted home. If you need to get rid of your redecorating waste but don’t have enough waste to fill a skip, a HIPPOBAG could be the solution for you.