As well as highlighting the valuable work of volunteers in delivering socially and environmentally beneficial projects, the article is a real boost to raising awareness of Community RePaint.
No doubt this will help to generate more donations but, as importantly, we hope it will also encourage people who need paint to get in touch with their local schemes.
For the full story visit here: www.telegraph.co.uk/property/greenproperty/8442781/Green-property-volunteer-recycling-shops.html
In 2012 336.5 million litres of paint (retail and trade) were sold in the UK. Of this, it is estimated that approximately 50 million litres are unused, stored in homes or garages or just thrown away. That’s enough paint to fill 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools!
The Community RePaint Scheme at Wirral has collected over 15,500 litres of paint in its first year, far exceeding all expectations. That’s enough to paint an estimated 1.2 million square foot of wall. The scheme has seen month on month growth and in June alone almost 2,500 litres were redistributed. Mike Close, Operations Manager at Recipro, said “We’re thrilled to have seen such success in our first year of running RePaint. We are not only reducing a huge waste problem, but we’re helping local organisations and residents to improve their homes, offices and community buildings without it costing them a fortune.”
One of the partners of the scheme is Veolia, who operate Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in the Merseyside area. The HWRCs are operated as part of a 20 year contract with the Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA), the authority responsible for waste disposal on behalf of all Merseyside Councils. Unwanted paint is dropped off at several centres by local residents and until recently was disposed of to landfill. In the first year of the partnership almost 9000 litres of paint has been collected by the Recipro scheme from Veolia HWRCs, the majority of which has already been reused in the local community. Mike Wake, Assistant Contract Manager at Veolia Merseyside & Halton Ltd said “Working closely with Recipro we have established an effective working relationship which has seen steady growth of the paint reuse service. Our aim is continued growth of the business with the added social and environmental benefit of helping the local community reuse a product that was previously disposed of to landfill”.
One of the community projects who have benefited from the scheme is Team Oasis, a children’s charity in Toxteth have purchased 250 litres of paint through the scheme. Paul Nilson of the scheme said “Using the Recipro service to source low cost building materials and paint has enabled us to not only to get the project finished on cost but also on time. We were surprised by the high quality of the materials, especially the paint which is just £1 per litre. We will be using the service again and again in the future and would certainly recommend it to anyone”
Martin Pearce, Manager of the Community RePaint Network nationally praised the Wirral scheme: “Recipro have done a great job in developing Community Repaint in such a short time in the Wirral area, and are to be congratulated. The great result being thousands of litres of paint which would have been wasted has now been used to brighten up many homes and community buildings.”
To find out more about donating or purchasing paint, please contact ReciproCity Wirral on 0151 639 0651 or Wirral@recipro-city.co.uk
The memorial garden is reminiscent of the famous commemoration for the First World War Centenary outside the Tower of London. Community groups, schools and individuals in social need can get paint for similar projects from their local scheme. Just search using your postcode Do You Need Paint? section of our website.
Community RePaint Wirral is running a promotion on garden shed and fence paint at just 50p per litre!
This year’s National Allotments Week, as organised by The National Allotment Society is themed around “A Plot for all Ages” celebrating the fact that allotments are now worked by men and women of all ages and enjoyed by families. It is also an opportune time to highlight the fact that we need to protect our sites for future generations to enjoy. Allotments are also a great way to educate children about where our food comes from, the work that is put into producing it and the importance of not wasting this resource.
Di Appleyard, PR Officer for the National Allotment Society, explained, “We would like to encourage everyone who values allotments and appreciates the benefits they bring to the health and well-being of a community to engage with their local council and make sure that allotments are considered in Local Plans and other relevant policies; if a site comes up for disposal the National Planning Casework Unit will assess any contradictions between the council’s intention to dispose of allotment land and council policies, particularly in local or neighbourhood plans”.
The local building and DIY materials reuse centre, which takes surplus, unwanted products and supplies them into the local community for a fraction of their original cost, has just relocated to larger premises on Dock Road, Wallasey. It has also launched a new paint remanufacturing centre on site as part of the Community RePaint scheme.
Supported by AkzoNobel, the owners of Dulux, this Community RePaint centre is using pioneering technology to transform ‘waste’ paint into a brand new, quality paint product at a community friendly price. This process enables leftover and surplus paint to be collected, remanufactured and put into new containers.
Last year ReciproCity Wirral reused 50,000 litres of paint, and with the new remanufacturing process it is looking to vastly grow this number.
ReciproCity Wirral sells products for around 25-30% of retail price, and customers range from charities and community organisations to members of the local community looking to brighten up their home.
Michael Close, ReciproCity Wirral Operations Manager, said:
“We are over the moon to have moved to these new premises. We can accept even more stock, which keeps it out of landfill, and can help even more of the local community. With the launch of our new paint remanufacturing centre we’re hoping to create more jobs and work experience opportunities too.”
Matt Pullen, UK Managing Director of AkzoNobel UK & Ireland said:
“British households throw away 55 million litres of paint every year, but over half of this paint is good enough to reuse. This innovative scheme is leading our industry in reducing the amount of paint currently entering the waste stream, as well as having a transformative impact, alongside Community RePaint, by colouring the lives of those who can least afford it.”
Martin Pearse, Community RePaint Network Manager, said:
“We’re delighted to continue our partnership with AkzoNobel and Newlife Paints on the roll-out of this innovative remanufacturing technology. This fantastic new facility will help us to create more social value from previously wasted paint. This coincides with Sustainable Living Month, which will be celebrated with events at Community RePaint schemes across the UK.”