Categories: News

Forest Recycling Project Celebrated on East London Billboards for their paint ‘leftovers’

 

Photo: Joanne Segars. Les, Forest Recycling Project.

The advert pictures Les at Forest Recycling Project, collecting paint for reuse from Household Waste Recycling Centers in the city.

The striking image was captured by photographer and sustainability advocate Joanne Segars. The large‑scale adverts showcase Forest Recycling Project’s paint reuse work as part of a wider creative journey that began when Joanne first encountered the organisation during her photography studies.

Joanne wanted to explore how photography could inspire people to rethink their relationship with waste and encourage more sustainable choices. That search led her to Community RePaint and Forest Recycling Project in Walthamstow —partly lead through having “a cupboard full of paint I wanted to dispose of sustainably and responsibly.”

Photo: Joanne Segars. Clive (font), Les (back) Mixing paint, Forest Recycling Project.

Joanne captured the work of the team at Forest Recycling Project in their warehouse, shop, council reuse points and community events, offering her a behind‑the‑scenes look at their work reclaiming, sorting and redistributing leftover paint. The resulting photography was later exhibited in East London and then featured as part of the Walthamstow Forest Community Art Trail.

Photo: Joanne Segars. Les, Forest Recycling Project.

Seeing that work now scaled up to billboard size has been, Joanne says, “a real thrill — and a huge honour to support Forest Recycling Project’s work in this way.”

Photographing paint reuse didn’t just inspire Joanne artistically — it sparked a wider exploration into the potential of waste materials to be transformed into something new.

This idea became the foundation of her ongoing project, Leftovers, which highlights organisations across the circular economy who create innovative products from surplus materials.

Photo: Joanne Segars. Clive at his mixing desk, Forest Recycling Project.

Joanne’s project draws attention to the scale of waste in the UK — from 50 million litres of leftover household paint every year to the 300,000 tonnes of textiles discarded by the fashion industry. But Leftovers is ultimately a hopeful story, celebrating creativity, ingenuity and the people behind these transformations.

The series now includes collaborations with:

  • Toast Brewing, who use surplus bakery bread to make their award‑winning beers
  • Weez & Merl, who turn leftover plastics into beautiful marble‑like homewares
  • Saywood, who use deadstock fabrics to create luxury fashion
  • UKHarvest, who rescue surplus food to provide nutritious meals to communities

with more partnerships in the pipeline.

Photo: Joanne Segars. Merl mixing Plastic, Weez & Merl
Photo: Joanne Segars. stacked coasters, Weez & Merl

Through her work, Joanne aims to inspire people to see waste differently — “Leftovers shows that waste can be the start of the story, not the end, and that the imperfect can be made perfect.”

“It tells the story of the companies and charities that transform leftovers into something new. It celebrates the passionate people, processes and ingenuity behind these transformations and the products that emerge [it] aims to inspire people to see that there’s a way of using more of what we already have and to encourage people to buy products made from waste and leftovers.”

Photo: Joanne Segars. Forest Recycling Project Community event, Hackney, London.

Community RePaint is proud to see Forest Recycling Project’s work recognised so prominently across East London, and even prouder to see the ripple effect it has had in inspiring creative, meaningful action. Thank you to Joanne Segars, for sharing such inspirational photographs and stories of a circular economy in action.

Discover a paint reuse organisation near you. 

Community RePaint Boosts Grassroots Devon Projects

The paint reuse initiative, run in partnership with SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK,  Devon County Council and Community RePaint has rapidly expanded since its launch last summer, transforming leftover paint into a valuable community resource.

Since opening, Community RePaint at Devon Recycling Centres has supported nearly 2,500 households, redistributing more than 11,000 litres of good‑quality reusable paint that would otherwise have gone to waste. Donated paint is collected, checked for quality, and made freely available for residents, community groups, and local organisations — offering both environmental benefits and a financial lifeline for grassroots projects.

Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Devon County Council Cabinet Member responsible for waste services, highlighted the project’s impact, noting that;

“By doing this we are saving a good material from going to waste, as well as saving on disposal costs. It’s a simple, effective way to reduce waste, support sustainability, and help local residents, charities and community groups access affordable decorating materials.”

Jacqui Winterburn, Re‑use Area Coordinator for SUEZ, said the response has been overwhelmingly positive:

‘With an average of around 700 householders receiving free paint each month, it’s been a fantastic success….Not only is it supporting the local community, but it’s also helping Devon residents to be more sustainable by keeping good-quality paint in use’.

As more of Devon’s HWRCs join the UK‑wide Community RePaint network, the project is proving to be a simple but powerful model for community‑led reuse — revitalising public spaces, reducing costs for grassroots groups, and preventing thousands of litres of usable paint from ending up as waste.

To discover paint reuse near you, search with you postcode here. 

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.

Closing the Loop on Paint, a Mylands and InUse ReUse Partnership

InUse ReUse is a social enterprise committed to preventing usable materials from becoming waste. Originally focused on collecting and redistributing surplus construction materials, InUse ReUse has expanded into the DIY space to scale its impact and bring circular economy principles directly to customers.

Founded in 1884 and still manufacturing in Lambeth, London, Mylands is Britain’s oldest family-owned paint manufacturer.

Through connections made within the Community RePaint network, InUse ReUse now collects Mylands’ mistinted and surplus batches of paint, repackages them, and sells them through its online platform and The Remakery in Brixton.

This partnership approach:

• Prevents high-quality paint from going to waste
• Makes sustainable, premium paint accessible at lower price points
• Provide a consistent production output of same colour paints
• Extends the life of existing materials in line with circular economy principles
• Creates a scalable model for reuse beyond traditional donation based systems

Each stage of the process from collection to resale is designed to retain value, reduce environmental impact and challenge the assumption that DIY products must be newly manufactured to be desirable.

Dennis Boateng, founder of InUse ReUse, says “Working with Mylands has shown just how much high‑quality paint can be saved from becoming waste when manufacturers and reuse organisations collaborate. Together, we’re proving that surplus materials can have a second life—and that circular solutions can be both commercially viable and environmentally impactful.”

A spokesperson for Mylands said, “At Mylands, we are recognised by our to sustainability, including the development of plant-based, low VOC paints using natural fillers and binders. Working with InUse ReUse ensures we have a route for surplus paint generated through mis-tinted batches, cancelled orders and leftover ingredients can be redistributed responsibly, extending product life while maintaining the brand’s premium quality standards.”

This collaboration is already reducing waste, lowering carbon impact, and increasing access to sustainable DIY products. On top of that, it serves as a blueprint for future partnerships.

InUse ReUse aims to continue expanding its paint offering while working with manufacturers and reuse networks to create resilient, low waste supply chains across the DIY and construction sectors. By embedding reuse into both physical operations and digital retail, they are helping redefine what sustainable DIY looks like proving that surplus materials can be high quality, desirable and commercially viable.

Want to help close the loop on paint? Find your local Community RePaint organisation here.

Community RePaint Shortlisted for National Reuse Award

The Awards for Excellence recognise the most innovative, effective, and inspiring work across the waste and resources sector, and we’re delighted to be counted alongside the other shortlisted organisations. Community RePaint’s nomination places us among this year’s leading initiatives championing reuse, sustainability, and local empowerment.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in May.

Until then, the Community RePaint team would like to thank its network members, partners, and supporters whose dedication continues to make paint reuse possible.

Good luck to all the other reuse organisations too!

Award winning paint reuse in Workington!

Community RePaint is thrilled to share that one of our network members, the Oval Paint Pot & Upcycling Centre in Workington, has won a Travis Perkins Better Together Award for 2026.

The centre was recognised in the Environment category. This award highlights its positive impact on the community and local environment.

Patch, from Community RePaint Workington, shared their excitement:

“This award is a recognition of how incredible our little project is, benefiting our community, preventing waste paint going to landfill, breathing new life into unwanted furniture and caring for our beautiful environment… we’re small but Mighty”

 

The team behind The Oval Paint Pot—Patch, Caroline and Lewis—have poured their energy into creating a space that is welcoming, imaginative and environmentally focused. They redistribute surplus paint to people in their local community. They also give donated furniture a new lease of life through upcycling. Their work cuts waste while supporting local households, community groups and DIY enthusiasts.

Winning this national Travis Perkins award highlights the huge impact that community-driven reuse projects can have, and we’re proud to see the Oval Paint Pot’s commitment, creativity, and environmental work recognised.

A huge congratulations to the whole Oval Paint Pot team from all of us at Community RePaint- so well deserved.

If you are an organisation interested in facilitating paint reuse in your local community- get in touch here. 

Community RePaint: our impact 2025!

 

 

In 2025, our Community RePaint network has once again achieved incredible impact — stopping 302,141 litres of paint from going to waste. Instead of ending up in disposal, this paint is now brightening homes, community spaces and lives across the UK.

A huge thank‑you to everyone who supported our mission throughout 2025. Together, we’re proving that leftover paint can have a second life, making decorating more affordable while protecting our environment.

If you’re planning a project this year, why not visit your local Community RePaint branch? You can find the paint you need in a low‑cost, sustainable and community‑powered way.

Got leftover paint you no longer need?
You can pass it on for reuse — click here to find out how.

New Community RePaint Member in Bickington: Welcome Grannypats Tiny Farmshop & Nursery

Already well‑known for building community through initiatives such as a community fridge, community library, and their much‑loved plant shop and nursery, Grannypats is now helping people refresh their homes and projects sustainably with affordable, reusable paint.

Community RePaint Bickington offers full and part tins of quality paint for individuals, groups, and community projects—for a suggested donation of just £1 per tin.

Anyone can drop in during opening hours to browse their stock and pick up exactly what they need to brighten a space, decorate a venue, or bring a creative idea to life.
They accept donations of reusable full and part tins of paint from local households, keeping materials in circulation and out of landfill. They simply ask that all donated paint is in good, usable condition.

Whether you’re an artist, a community group, a DIY enthusiast, or a resident looking to freshen up a room, Community RePaint Bickington welcomes you to explore their preloved paint and be part of a growing culture of reuse.

Looking for paint near you? Search with your postcode here.

B&Q Joins UK Paintcare Trial to Boost Paint Reuse and Recycling

Customers visiting selected B&Q stores can return leftover paint as part of a take back trial. Once collected, the paint will be assessed for reuse or remanufactured into new paint products.
Items that can’t be reused will be disposed of safely and responsibly. Insights from this trial will help shape a national system capable of dramatically increasing reuse, recycling and remanufacturing rates.
The PaintCare drop‑off service is currently available at the following B&Q locations:

  • B&Q Coventry – Alvis Retail Park, CV5 8BW
  • B&Q Coventry Brandon Road – Binley Woods, CV3 2JD
  • B&Q Halesowen – Mucklow Hill, B62 8EP
  • B&Q Kidderminster – Green Street, DY10 1AX
  • B&Q Solihull – Marshall Lake Road, B90 4RB
  • B&Q Wolverhampton – Black Country Route, WV14 0QL
  • B&Q Wednesbury – Gallagher Retail Park, WS10 9QY

The trial is also running across several other national decorating retailers, including Brewers Decorator Centres, Dulux Decorator Centres, and Johnstone’s Decorating Centres, helping test how a large‑scale circular system for decorative paint could function across the UK.
Community RePaint has played a key role in supporting the development of the UK PaintCare initiative. While Community RePaint focuses on redistributing reusable paint back into communities, PaintCare aims to address the full spectrum of leftover decorative paint — including recycling pathways for products that cannot be reused.
These efforts support a more circular future for paint in the UK, reducing waste, supporting community reuse, and conserving valuable resources.

Tenants homes brightened in Glasgow

A pilot scheme has seen new tenants benefit with some home improvements- with over 1,500 litres of paint being reused since the project’s inception

Working in partnership with Community RePaint Glasgow since July 2025, Queens Cross Housing Association has provided preloved paint packs to new tenants where the decoration of their property has been deemed to be below a reasonable standard.

How does it work?

Once a tenant’s home has been identified as needing a fresh lick of paint, Queens Cross work with Emmaus to supply them with the required paint needed to decorate their home.

The tenant chooses which colour they’d like, and once the order has been confirmed Emmaus deliver the paint pack to their home within 24 hours.

Emmaus redistribute paint that would otherwise be going to waste, and has been saved from landfill or incineration through reuse or remanufacture.

Emmaus Paint Project (2)More than 50 properties have received improvements through the scheme – with over 1,500 litres of paint being reused since the project’s inception. Feedback from tenants who have benefitted from the project has been extremely positive.

Richard Allwood, Chief Executive of Emmaus Glasgow, said:

“The paint pack scheme is a win-win for everyone. Paint products, which would otherwise go to landfill, is being reused in the community with new Queens Cross tenants seeing their homes improved […] They are also saving money from not having the cost of buying paint from high-street stores which can be expensive.”

Who are Emmaus Glasgow?

Emmaus Glasgow is a homelessness charity which provides purpose-built accommodation, support, training and work opportunities for up to 27 people with experience of homelessness.

Emmaus Paint Project (1)Everyone has their own bedroom and bathroom, and access to shared areas where people can eat, get together and wash their clothes.

It’s also a social enterprise with charity shops based in Hamiltonhill and Partick. These shops sell a range of new and reused furniture, homeware and clothing.

These charity shops help generate the funds needed to sustain Emmaus Glasgow’s home and support for people who have been homelessness.

Based at 101 Ellesmere Street, the Hamiltonhill charity shop is open Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm. Pop along for a visit, have a chat and pick up a bargain.