Brand new scheme in Grantham, Lincolnshire already saving paint from waste.
We’re excited to announce the launch of our new scheme at the Grantham Household Waste Recycling Centre, aimed at preventing unused paint from going to waste.
This scheme, which opened on Monday 9 December 2024, ensures that usable tins of paint are set aside and made available for free to anyone who wants them. When residents drop off paint at the centre, as long as it’s still usable, it’s placed in the Community RePaint store. Other local residents and community groups can then help themselves to any paint they need – completely free of charge.
In the few days since the scheme began, 20 tins of paint have already been taken by local residents, saving them from being wasted.
Cllr Daniel McNally, executive councillor for waste at Lincolnshire County Council, shares:
“Each year, approximately 50 million litres of paint are discarded across the UK, and we see a significant amount of nearly-new or even unopened paint coming through our recycling centres in Lincolnshire. Thanks to Community RePaint, we’re preventing a lot of this paint from going to waste by giving people the chance to take what they need.
“For smaller jobs or projects that could benefit from a fresh coat, this scheme offers an opportunity to save money instead of purchasing new paint. The alternative would be for this paint to be disposed of at our energy-from-waste plant, so this initiative is also helping us keep usable items circulating longer.”
Community RePaint is part of a wider effort to reduce waste and encourage reuse, following the success of the Lincolnshire Reuse Shop at Tattershall. This scheme is part of the strategic waste strategy of Lincolnshire County Council in their bid to adopt circular economy practices.
Residents who wish to participate – whether by donating or collecting paint – simply need to speak to a staff member on site. The available paint will vary depending on what’s been dropped off, but most types of paint are accepted.
Community RePaint is a national paint reuse network, sponsored by Dulux, with over 80 schemes operating across the UK. The Grantham site marks the first of its kind in Lincolnshire.
Find your local scheme here.
