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Paintback® is taking unwanted paint and packaging's colourful past to a brighter future of responsible disposal and innovative reuse. Paintback®, established in 2016, is a world-first, industry-led initiative designed to divert unwanted paint and packaging from ending up in landfill and vital waterways. Find out more.
Everything you need to know about the safe disposal of paint
Paint should not be put in recycling or garbage bins at home or work as it a hazardous waste material that can contaminate our groundwater and have negative effects on human health.
Paint includes:
Primers & Sealers
Varnishes
Paint cans
Primers
Sealers
Stains
Shellacs
Wood coatings
Undercoats
FIND A RECYCLER
Learn more about safely disposing of paint and solvents
How to recycle paint at work
A number of commercial recyclers offer paint and solvent recycling and services across a wide variety of industries. Lead-based paints may not be accepted, and it is advisable to check with the recycler beforehand.
There are also a number of operators such as chemical collection services that can provide safe disposal of paint when recycling is not possible.
Most scrap metal recyclers will accept empty unwanted steel paint cans, although some of them may not take tins that contained lead paint. Find a recycler for empty steel paint cans near you.
Recycling scheme for tradies
Paintback is an independent not-for-profit organisation that is funded through a 15 cents plus GST per litre levy on eligible products. The initiative accepts up to 100 litres of unwanted paint per visit (containers must be 20 litres or under). The industry-led scheme is a cost-effective solution for trade painters to dispose of unwanted paint and packaging, providing 165 collection points nationally. To find a location near you, visit Paintback.
Paintback accepts a maximum of 100 litres in volume per visit. This must be carried in secured containers no larger than 20 litres.
Why recycle?
Paint contains chemicals such as solvents and metals that can contaminate our groundwater and have negative effects on human health. In particular, older paints may contain the heavy metal lead, a cumulative poison.
It is illegal to dispose of any liquid waste into open waters, so paint should never be poured down a drain or gutter. Paint can also be hazardous in landfills, as the chemicals in the paint can leach into the soil and our groundwater.
Paints and solvents can be recycled which can reduce the costs associated with hazardous waste disposal. The process recovers solvents from paint waste for reuse, which are just as effective in terms of colour and durability. Recycling paint also reduces the demand for non-renewable raw materials such as oil for paint production.
What happens to it?
Recycling paint and containers significantly reduces waste to landfill.
- Paint containers can be recycled, subject to contamination.
- Solvent paint can be used as an alternative energy source.
- Water is separated from acrylic paint, with the by-product used in a variety of industrial applications.
Reusing paint
Circle Paints collects surplus paint from trade painters to sell on their online store. This ensures the unused paint is used for its original purpose, instead of being sent to landfill or used as alternative energy source or in industrial applications.
Trade painters in Sydney can donate unwanted paint to Circle Paints for reuse. They will arrange a convenient time for collection of surplus paint. Depending on distance from their depot in St Peters, they collect minimum volumes of between 50 and 80 litres.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are plastic paint buckets recyclable?
Plastic paint buckets cannot be recycled via your household recycling bin. Your household recycling bin is only for plastic bottles and containers from the kitchen, bathroom and laundry, so large rigid plastic items like buckets should not be put in there.
Paint buckets and tins can be dropped off for recycling at your local Paintback site. Use the directory on this page to find a recycling point near you.
If you have a large quantity of plastic buckets that you need to get rid of, search as a business on the rigid plastics page to find a commercial plastic recycler in your area that may accept them (it is advised to call in advance to check if they will be accepted and if there is a cost).
Can you recycle canvas paintings?
Unfortunately, canvas paintings aren’t easily recycled as they are made from a mix of materials. Therefore, to avoid sending them to landfill, you might like to paint over them and turn them into a new piece of artwork or donate them to a local charity store or community group so others can enjoy them.
Are paint brushes recyclable?
Unfortunately, paint brushes are not easily recycled. They should never be put in your household recycling bin. However, with some good care, you can extend the life of your brushes and use them repeatedly. Be sure to clean your brushes thoroughly after each use to keep them in good condition.
If your brushes are no longer fit for painting, you might like to reuse them as cleaning brushes to clean tricky places around the house. When you’re ready to get rid of them, they should be placed in your household garbage bin.
