Did you know that an estimated 50 million litres of paint each year go to waste in the UK? This leftover paint is either thrown away or stored in homes or garages despite over half of it still being usable. The Community RePaint Network is working hard to create a circular economy of paint to reduce waste.

What do we mean by a circular economy? A circular economy is an economic system of closed loops in which raw materials, components and products lose their value as little as possible, renewable energy sources are used and systems thinking is at the core.

Reusing leftover paint through the Community RePaint Network is at the forefront of creating a circular economy of paint. Reusing as much of the leftover paint in the UK as possible prevents valuable resources from going to waste. It also helps local groups and charities refresh shared spaces, create colourful murals for the community and enable people of low income to redecorate their homes at a lower cost.

Case study: Bristol

A green-minded Bristol-based couple transformed their bathroom by purchasing leftover paint through the Community RePaint Network. Afterwards, they dropped off the unused paint back for it to be reused again.

The paint journey began at the St Phillips Household Waste and Recycling Centre, where local residents drop off their leftover paint.  Community RePaint Bristol City, run by the SOFA Project, collects paint from the recycling centre, as well as other local businesses, retailers and paint manufactures, to prevent it from going to waste. The scheme quality checks and processes the paint then sell it from just £2 a litre to the community.

Community RePaint Bristol City

The couple got in touch with Community RePaint Bristol City to check if the paint they needed for their project was available. Good news – it was! The couple visited the scheme to purchase the paint from £2 per litre and also received some useful painting tips and tricks from the staff. Using white emulsion from the local scheme, and appliances they had sourced from a local reuse charity, the couple transformed their bathroom into a fresh light space.

Once they had completed the transformation, they had leftover paint from the project. So now with the knowledge that leftover paint could be reused, they returned it to their local drop off point at the St Phillips Household Waste and Recycling Centre, ready for Community RePaint Bristol City to collect and brighten the lives of more people in the community.

Drop off point at St Phillips Household Waste and Recycling Centre

Reusing items and preventing waste can benefit everyone within your community and reduce the impact on the environment. Join in the RePaint revolution:

• Find affordable, leftover paint at your nearest Community RePaint scheme.
• Drop-off your reusable paint at your local drop-off point.