RePaint!
Last week I was pointed in the direction of a really cool website which promotes ‘paint reuse’ and I thought it would be perfect to share on here. It’s happened to me a few times where I have been painting a room and end up with half a tin left over, it usually ends up in the shed only to be thrown out a couple of years later after I’ve had a rummage and discovered it by accident. Well, guess what… that no longer has to be the case! RePaint is a project run by a network of communities across the UK. The network is managed by Resource Futures an employee-owned, non-profit-distributing environmental consultancy. They set the project up after research they conducted identified that residents in leeds had a large volume of surplus paint in storage. The first project was established in Leeds and subsequently evolved into a national network.
Paint is donated by individuals and also trade/retail who donate end-of-line, unsold or mis-tinted paint. The scheme has worked with Dulux since the beginning in 1993, and also works with Homebase, B&Q, Wickes among many others.
- 2010 – 366 million litres (!) of paint were sold in the UK
- an estimated 55 million are unused, stored in homes or simply thrown away
- the wastage along is enough to fill 22 Olympic-sized swimming pools!
I have paint!
If you have paint that is usable that you would like to donate them visit the website www.communityrepaint.org.uk and search for the nearest RePaint location. I have already done this (because I’m good like that…) and can tell you that the nearest one to Winchester is in Basingstoke. There is a whole list of the types of paint that you can donate here.
Individuals with paint to donate – search on the website to find your nearest donation point.
Trade/Retailers – again, there is information on donating surplus paint on the website.
I need paint!
If you are a local community group, amateur sports club or charity and need paint to redecorate the premises, please don’t hesitate to contact your local Community RePaint scheme (again go to the website have search). Individuals in social need can also apply for paint, this includes people on income support, former homeless, refugees and asylum seekers among others. To find out more about how to get your hands on some paint go to the ‘Where can I get paint?’ page.
Want to know more?
Of course you do – think of all the extra space you’ll have in your shed or garage! Check out the website - www.communityrepaint.org.uk
