Recycle your unwanted paint

By Carol Saffer

Paintback® is an Australian paint industry initiative founded in 2016 by Dulux, Haymes, PPG, Resene and Wattyl, designed to divert unwanted paint and packaging from landfills and vital waterways.

Since its establishment, Australians have returned over 36 million kilograms of unwanted paint and packaging to the national paint recovery scheme.

The recycle scheme accepts unwanted paint (water and oil-based) and packaging at over 165 permanent Australian collection sites.

Justin Horne, City of Melton’s Manager Environment and Waste, said at the Melton Recycling Facility, Paintback is well utilised mainly by the local community and some from the Moorabool area.

“Based on transactions details during the current financial year we had 315 transactions,” Mr Horne said.

“While the previous financial year we had 460 transactions.”

This amounts to approximately 57 tonnes per annum returned and recycled.

The Paintback program ensures unwanted paint, and the container is disposed of safely or repurposed for other industrial uses.

When the packaging and liquid are separated, the containers are recycled, subject to contamination.

The solvent paint can then be converted into an alternative fuel source replacing coal.

Separating water from acrylic paint results in a by-product used in various industrial applications.

The reclaimed water is used by other industries, which reduces the reliance on mains water.

The scheme funds Australian research into how it can improve the recovery of paint and paint tins to reduce demand for virgin resources.

Paintback CEO Karen Gomez said they aim to have 90 per cent of unwanted paint diverted into Australia’s developing circular economy.

“The best thing is to make sure you buy the right amount of paint for your project,” Ms Gomez said.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-06-14/12

in the 14 June 2022 edition
OR
pick up a paper around your town.