Categories: Case Studies

Community RePaint Wirral Helps Transform Veolia’s GoodBox Reuse Initiative

Photo courtesy of: https://www.merseyside-and-halton.veolia.co.uk/goodbox

Community RePaint Wirral has proudly supported a new circular economy initiative in the Liverpool. The GoodBox, an innovative reuse container operated by Veolia, is colourful and eye-catching thanks to Recipro providing preloved paint.

The GoodBox is a travelling container that will be stationed at various Household Waste Recycling Centres across Merseyside and Halton. Its purpose is simple: to match unwanted items donated by local residents with the needs of community groups, charities, schools, and social enterprises. The initiative is being rolled out to ensure valuable materials are reused rather than thrown away, giving them a meaningful second life.

The Good Box is a project created in partnership with Veolia and Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority.

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with Veolia to give our residents’ unwanted items a new lease of life. The GoodBox is a fantastic way to show that one person’s spring clean can be another person’s gold mine. By working together, we’re making it easier than ever to keep good-quality materials in circulation.”

The GoodBox operates on a simple model:

  • A community organisation applies to “adopt” The GoodBox.
  • Their requested items—such as tools, gardening equipment, craft materials, or DIY supplies—are listed on the GoodBox chalkboard.
  • Local residents visiting the HWRC donate directly to that project by placing requested items into the container.
  • At the end of the month, the adopting organisation collects the items for use in their project.
Photo courtesy of: https://www.merseyside-and-halton.veolia.co.uk/Dontbinitboxit

 

To support the initiative’s launch and community appeal, Community RePaint Wirral provided reused paint to help decorate The GoodBox. Supplying preloved paint for The GoodBox was a natural fit for Community RePaint Wirral run by Recipro. They diverts large volumes of leftover paint from the waste stream—over 1,000,000 litres and counting—turning potential waste into a valuable community resource.
Learn more about The GoodBox. 
If you have a project that required RePainting, find your local Community RePaint.

artist AlecLDN creates reclaimed masterpiece

Croydon Vineyard is an organisation offering free English lessons and practical support with housing, schooling and employment to anyone in need.

The mural, named Changes, was painted by local artist, and paint reuse champion AlecLdn. The artwork was was painted using repurposed paint sourced through the Community RePaint network.

AlecLDN has shared how the butterflies depicted in the mural represent the transformative power of a journey. He says;

“Butterflies travel great distances guided by instinct and hope. Human journeys are much the same, crossing borders, learning new languages, and transforming through courage, resilience, and community. Each wing represents movement, change, and the beauty of beginning again.”

He goes on to share how reusing the paint for his mural adds another layer of meaning to the piece;

“This artwork, created using repurposed paint, materials given a second life rather than being discarded. Just as the paint has been transformed and reused, the piece reflects the journeys of people who reshape their lives in new places. Transformation exists not only in the image of the butterfly but also in the materials themselves. Colours once overlooked become something vibrant, meaningful, and shared.”

If your organisation is looking to brighten a space, support a community project or bring an artistic vision to life sustainably, explore how repurposed paint could help.

To see other of AlecLDN’s reclaimed murals, find him on Instagram here.

Enfield’s Sustainable Mural Using 100% Preloved Paint

The large-scale artwork, spanning 180 degrees, was commissioned to celebrate sustainability, creativity and the community of Enflield. The staggering work can be found at Dugdale Art’s Centre: Enfield’s flagship Arts & Cultural hub.

Amazingly, the entire mural was completed for under £17. The initiative was supported by Enfield Council and other local organizations dedicated to environmental and cultural development.

The project was led by artist Alec Saunders, AKA Alecldn, who partnered with the North London Waste Authority, to exclusively use reclaimed paint sourced from Community RePaint East London at Forest Recycling Project, as well reusable paint collected by NLWA at their recycling centres – another member of the Community RePaint network.

When asked abut his experience using preloved paint, artist Alec Saunders is a self proclaimed reclaimed paint convert.

“I was initially unsure about using reclaimed paint, but I was bowled over by the quality. The coverage & opacity was excellent, the colors were vibrant, and the finish was just as good as brand-new paint.” He said.

When asked why he was so keen to be involved in the project, Alec replied; “Sustainability is one of my core values as an artist and it felt great knowing I was making an eco-friendly choice by reducing waste. I’ll be trying to use reclaimed paint in most of my work going forward and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a sustainable and high-quality option!”

In addition to painting the mural, Alecldn engaged with the local community through sustainability workshops, collaborating with residents and students from St. Anne’s school to shape the design. The themes of the mural reflect Enfield’s rich cultural heritage, incorporating elements of nature, community spirit, music, and the area’s manufacturing legacy.

As the Dugdale Arts Centre continues to serve as a hub for cultural expression, this mural serves as a great inspiration to all artists wanting to combine their creative out with sustainable materials. Our congratulations go to Alecldn and all the organisations involved in bring this inspiration project to life!

If you’re a artist looking for preloved paint or just needing paint to redecorate your home, you can search for your local Community RePaint branch here.

“From Volunteer to T-Rex Muralist: Sophie’s Creative Journey with Community RePaint”

Tell us about how you came to volunteer at your local Community RePaint scheme. 

“After struggling with my mental health for some time and not being able to work, I decided I had to do something. Volunteering seemed like the perfect first step to building up my confidence again, whilst also giving back to the community. I’ve always had a passion for painting so The Paint Shop is a great place to get ideas for personal projects.” 

What do you love about volunteering there?

“Every customer brings their own personal story, tips and inspiration. We’d love to see more pictures of how our customers have used their paint, whether it’s big or small projects!”

We love your T-Rex mural, what’s the story behind it? 

“The inspiration for the mural came from my son, he struggles to sleep in his own room so I thought it’d be a good idea to brighten it up a bit so he feels more comfortable. When I asked him what colour he’d like he said “a big T-Rex in the jungle!” I wasn’t planning to do a mural but seeing his face light up with excitement gave me the motivation!

I started by drawing the design on paper, using a picture of a dinosaur as a reference. I then had to figure out how to get that onto the wall so I made a projector using a card board box, a Polly pocket, a marker pen and my phone torch. Finally, I traced the dinosaur onto the wall and free handed the jungle behind it.”

Thanks Sophie for sharing your Community RePaint story, and for inspiring us all to get creative with leftover paint. We have no doubt that your son will treasure this mural for many years to come!

Sophie picked up the paint from Community RePaint Northampton, where the paint is saved from landfill and made available for reuse in the local community for projects just like this one.

To find your local Community RePaint branch to pick up preloved paint for your project or inquire about volunteering opportunities: click here.

Do you have a RePainting story of your own, get in touch with us at repaint@resourcefutures.co.uk 

Community Nursery gets RePainted

The nursery approached artist Maya Cross with a vision to transform their plain, block-colored walls into something engaging and vibrant. What followed was a collaborative effort to reflect the children’s ideas and bring the space to life. After requesting input from the children, and with the help of her local Community RePaint branch, Maya turned their vision into a breathtaking mural.

“I requested some ideas from the children so the murals would reflect what they wanted to see and then got to work…I had such a lovely and reflective time painting these walls despite the battle with the texture of them and the race against the wonderful Manchester Rain!”

With the success of this collaboration, Martenscroft Community Nursery is now a little brighter, thanks to a beautiful blend of creativity, community spirit, and preloved paint!

If you have a wall that needs brightening, why not explore your local Community RePaint branch and help to prevent paint waste? Find your local branch here.

Carlisle school gets a ReColour Revamp

The Rebuild Site Team RePainting Eastriggs Primary school with ReColour paint.

A Carlisle primary school has been given a new lease of life, thanks to Community RePaint Carlisle run by The Rebuild Site CIC. 

As part of their construction waste reuse mission, The Rebuild Site CIC have run a Community RePaint scheme since 2023. They collect in surplus paint from decorating stores and businesses and stock it in their warehouse for members of the public to buy at an affordable cost.

Shelves filled with paint saved from waste by Community RePaint Carlisle

The Rebuild Site director, Maisie Hunt explains; “we collect construction materials to stop them from ending up in landfill, supporting communities in Carlisle, Wolverhampton and Workington…We encourage everyone to reuse materials where they can.”

As well as stocking paint for reuse, The Rebuild Site also stock our remanufactured paint, ReColour, which is made from over 95% leftover paint, and a big part of the solution to stopping leftover paint going to waste.

ReColour paint, in Terrific Teal, remanufactured from paint saved from going to waste.

Eastriggs Primary School is just one example of an organisation reaping the benefits of paint reuse. The school was given a refresh by Community RePaint Carlisle ahead of the Christmas holidays.

As well as walls, planters and reused tyres were also transformed with preloved paint.

Maisie Hunt, director at The Rebuild Site, said: “We hit 10,000 Instagram followers, which was a big achievement for us, driving community engagement and reducing waste of construction materials – we’ve seen firsthand how much of an impact this initiative really has.

“So, to celebrate this, we organised a volunteering day where we revamped a school using our ReColour paint.”

ReColour paint in Gorgeous Grey, revives the old paintwork.

The team at the Carlisle paint redistribution site used their own ReColour paint, remanufactured from the leftover product donated by individuals and projects, to give the primary school its new look.

Rebecca Orton, partnerships marketing manager at Dulux, who sponcer the work of Community RePaint, added: “Community RePaint is a simple solution to the problem of leftover paint.

“By reusing paint in our community, we can bring colour to the lives of those who need it the most and help to protect the planet by preventing perfectly good paint from being disposed of.”

Looking to revive your home or project? find your local Community Repaint scheme for affordable and sustainable paint!

ReColour comes to the Rescue Service!

Chichester Boys’ Club were chosen as the winner of the ‘Win a Crew’ competition organised by firefighters at Chichester Fire Station earlier in the year.
The competition was open to local community groups and charities who needed help with a project such as decorating a community space, carrying out repairs to a community asset, or bringing an un-loved garden back into use.
The crew had a great time working with the team at Chichester Boys’ Club and pupils from Chichester High School who use the facility to freshen up the space and give it a new lease of life.
We are delighted that they chose to use ReColour paint for their project. Our ReColour remanufactured paint is made from 95% reclaimed paint that has been saved from going to waste. This means not only did Chichester Boys Club get a new lease of life for their building, they also helped to fight paint waste in the process!
Now that the function hall is redecorated, it is back being used and enjoyed by the local community. The collaboration between Chichester Boys Club and the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was a huge success and both are hoping to work together in the future.
If your community space could do with ‘RePaint’ and your looking to make a sustainable and affordable choice, find out more about how ReColour is a great solution for your project. 

Cornwall’s Beach Guardians go green!

Green Paint saved from waste by Community RePaint St Austell, cornwall, is used to refurbish a Mission Centre for environment education on the beach.

Beach Guardian CIC is a Community Interest Company based in Cornwall.It was co-founded by father and daughter duo: Rob and Marine Biologist Emily. They organise community beach cleans as well as conducting educational workshops within schools and other groups. Their aim is to connect people with the environment to improve health and well being of both people and planet.

This summer, having received funding from Prince William and his Duke of Cornwall’s Marine Environment Fund, they have refurbished their Mission Centre including a lick of green paint from Community RePaint Cornwall, St Austell.

Green Paint saved from waste by Community RePaint St Austell, cornwall, is used to refurbish a Mission Centre.

Rob writes; “We want to give a massive thanks to Carolyn from Prosperity Paint Hub who helped us with the paint that we needed. Their aim is to protect the environment and improve the wellbeing of people, and appearance of places, across the UK by diverting reusable leftover paint from disposal and redistributing it to community groups, local charities, families and individuals.’

Lady smiling with trolley full of paint, and shelves around her full of paint
Carolyn from Prosperity Paint Hub at her scheme at Community RePaint St Austell, Cornwall. All the paint has been saved from waste!

The green paint is not only green in colour, but also the sustainable choice too. The paint picked up from our Community RePaint schemes is all paint that has been saved from going to waste, it would have otherwise ended up in landfill or being incinerated.

Green Paint saved from waste by Community RePaint St Austell, cornwall, is used to refurbish a Mission Centre.

If you have a project that could use a lick of paint, why not choose to reuse? Find you local scheme here or if you ordering more than 60 litres or more, get our remanufactured paint delivered to your door.

Upcycling workshops for Neurodivergent Adults

After spending 39 years wondering why she struggled with certain things, and wasn’t like her neurotypical peers, Ruth received a formal Autism diagnosis, and found herself without adequate support.

Finding her full-time employment difficult to sustain, Ruth sought change in her life that would benefit her mental health. Having discovered that creativity, particularly upcycling furniture, gave her something positive to focus on, Ruth was determined to use this to support other Neurodivergent adults like herself as well as to improve her own sense of wellbeing.

With the help of Alice at ReMade Wigan , Ruth set up Reet Good Wood, a monthly creative workshop for Neurodivergent adults to learn and paint together in an accepting and calm environment. Their sessions are available to book via Eventbrite and are held in Leigh on the last Saturday of every month.

Alice from Remade Wigan is a stockist of ReColour chalk paint and introduced Ruth to ReColour and they are enjoying using ReColour chalky paint to transform furniture in their workshops. “It’s a great paint to work with…. It’s definitely my preferred chalky type paint” says Ruth.

ReColour chalk paint is manufactured from paint that has been saved from waste, and is a big part of our solution for reusing paint rather that seeing it go to landfill or being incinerated. It is environmentally friendly, affordable and great quality and has a large range of applications including upcycling furniture.

The attendees of Reet Good Wood workshops love the sessions, “I really enjoy these sessions and I always look forward to the next one. It’s great to be around other people who understand what it’s like to be Neurodivergent.”

Reet Good Wood is part of a collective of creative orgnaisations and independent shops at Leigh Spinners Mill. They have an open house event on Friday 6th September 2024 between 1pm and 6pm, where they’ll be showing round guests, offering full day payable workshop experiences, selling handmade wooden products and selling ReColour paint. If you’re local, why not pay them a visit?

Find out more about Reet Good Wood on their website.

If you’re interested in buying or stocking ReColour chalk paint, click here.

p-p-p-p-pick up a RePainted Penguin

 

Let’s start with your awesome design. Where did you start? 

There wasn’t a theme for this project, you just got a blank template and to come up with a design, and I was lucky enough to get chosen. My design imagines the black parts of a penguin as a mesmerizing galaxy, the small huddle of penguins on the stomach represent the species’ resilience, mirroring their ability to thrive in harsh climates. I like to think my design truly celebrates the penguins adventurous spirit.

 

We love that, and it really does! We understand you discovered Community Repaint on Instagram and decided to use recycled paints for your sculpture. Tell us more!

Yes, I came across Community Repaint on Instagram, and I thought it was such a brilliant idea. I needed a variety of paints for this project, and using recycled materials not only helped keep the costs down but also allowed me to contribute to environmental sustainability. There was an amazing variety of paints available, and I managed to save over £200 by purchasing the paints this way.

 

That’s fantastic! It’s great to see how environmental consciousness can be incorporated into art and it’s an amazing saving too. Does your penguin have a name? 

Yes! it’s Starlit Journey

Where can people find Starlit Journey the galactic penguin?

I’m very grateful to waddleofworcester and wildinart for letting me be part of this brilliant project. Anyone can walk the trail, there are 40 large penguins and 40 small penguins to find. The trail covers around 5 miles. People can download an app or buy a map from the Waddle of Worcester website: https://waddleofworcester.co.uk/

 

Brilliant. And how can people find put more about your work?

I have a website here where you can see some of my other work. Each piece I create is a reflection of my love for the animal kingdom.

Thank you Anne! It’s been great to hear all about your penguin project and the brilliant way you have used paint that you found at your local Community RePaint scheme to create a design so out of this world!

Inspired? Anyone can pick up affordable and sustainable paint for reuse at their nearest Community RePaint scheme, so discover your local scheme today.