Council works with B&Q to encourage safe paint disposal

Shropshire Council is working in partnership with retailer B&Q and their paint tin suppliers Ardagh Group to raise awareness of how to safely dispose of waste paint. 

Many paints are water-based and are not considered hazardous.  However, some paint contains solvents which need specialist treatment so they do not harm the environment when disposed of.  

The council is reminding all residents that you should: 

• never empty paint into drains or watercourses.
• never throw paint away in your wheelie bin or sack. 
• never put paint on a bonfire.

Before you dispose of leftover paint you should try and use it up yourself, or you can donate it to a local community paint re-use project.  For example, you can advertise your paint as free to a good home on websites like www.freegle.org.uk. 

All types of household paint can be taken to Shropshire’s five household recycling centres (HRCs) where it will be stored safely and then disposed of professionally.  

You can also recycle metal paint tins at the HRCs (so long as they are empty) by putting them in the scrap metal skip. 

A guidance leaflet has been sponsored by B&Q, and the leaflets will be made available across B&Q stores in the county as well as through council sites, including libraries. 

Larry Wolfe, Shropshire Council’s head of waste management, said:

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with B&Q to help raise awareness of the options for dealing with unwanted or leftover paint.  It’s important that people are aware of the safety implications surrounding waste paint, as well as the environmental benefits of reuse and recycling.”