How to dispose of paint correctly
paint
The best way to avoid having to throw away paint is to follow the coverage instructions carefully. Although paint no longer contains lead, some paint contains solvents and other chemicals which can cause damage to the environment if you don’t dispose of paint properly.
If you do have significant amounts of paint left over, some charities will accept it as a donation.
If you only have small amounts of paint to throw away that are too small to donate, here’s what you should do.
Where to dispose of paint when its leftover
As mentioned, do not throw paint down your sink. As well as the risk of blocking the sink, the materials can damage marine life and the environment.
Either use a specialist service like Yes Waste Ltd’s Paint Disposal Service to come and collect it, or take it to a Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Who is responsible for disposing of paint?
If you are using a contractor to do your painting, or if you are a contractor yourself, you should ensure you have agreed what will happen to any excess paint (or any hazardous material) before starting the job.
Not disposing of paint correctly can lead to fines, especially when flytipped.
Can you recycle Paint?
No. Recycling depends on there being facilities to turn the paint into something else, or there being a significant commercial market for the product. Neither is true in the case of paint, so paint cannot be recycled.
You could use the Council to dispose of paint…
Emulsion – emulsion paint should be mixed with sand until it forms a solid material.
Gloss paint – leave it outside to harden and dry. Once it is dry you can dispose of at your Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Note – some Household Waste Recycling Centres may restrict the amount of paint pots you can bring.
…or ask Yes Waste Ltd to collect it
Yes Waste Ltd can come and dispose of paint for you. We have regular and one-off collections in Leeds and across West Yorkshire, collecting all kinds of builders and general rubbish. With collections sometimes on the day you call, we might even be there before the paint on the wall has dried!
Hi I’m the marketing person for Yes Waste. For queries about waste management, speak to the experts on 0800 058 2522