Already larger than it’s ever been, the Community RePaint network continues to expand with four new schemes in as many months!
Just three days into the New Year, Community RePaint East Berkshire joined the already 63-scheme strong network. Operating in Bracknell, Reading and Wokingham, the scheme is run by The Green Machine, collecting paint under contract from two HWRCs in Bracknell and Reading, and within a matter of weeks were filling their shelves with reusable paint, including 300 tins donated by a private company clearing out old offices.
Thanks to the goodwill of several individuals and organisations, Community RePaint Hull & East Riding quickly followed; collecting and redistributing paint in the local area to many different groups including the YMCA, a makeover of a youth club and low income families.
Since then, Community RePaint Bromley and Community RePaint Walsall have also opened their doors. The first run by the charity give2give has, in addition to the paint already being donated by local businesses, secured regular donations from a local paint retailer, whilst Community RePaint Walsall are looking to form links with local painters and decorators who have many litres of leftover paint, which is costly for them to dispose of.
Martin Pearse, Manager of the Community RePaint Network said: “With millions of litres of surplus and leftover paint to be found at Household Waste Recycling Centres, many local authorities and waste management companies are looking at how they can reuse paint, rather than dispose of it, and at the same time reduce their costs. Likewise, painters, decorators and the retail trade are finding that they have an abundance of surplus paint and an increasing number are contacting Community RePaint so that the paint can be reused.”
There are now nearly 70 schemes across the UK, and they’re not stopping there, with nine more schemes in the pipeline, we can expect to see even more surplus paint being put to good use in the UK.
