Celebrations for Community RePaint Scheme brightening local communities

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is celebrating twenty-one years of their Community RePaint scheme, having first operated paint reuse at two recycling centres in 2001.

The city council has been accepting leftover householder paint that would otherwise have gone for disposal and redistributed it to individuals, charities and community groups for free to help brighten homes and community spaces.

The scheme opened on 10 October 2001, and in 21 years prevented more than 25,000 litres of paint from going to waste. Reusing this paint in the community has not only helped those in need but has equated to a savings of 69,787kg CO2e – that’s the same as a petrol car driving around the entire circumference of the Earth 9 times.

Community RePaint Stoke-on-Trent is part of the UK-wide Community RePaint network, a network of paint reuse schemes working to solve the issue of the estimated 50 million litres of paint that go to waste in the UK each year. In 2021, the schemes in the network collected 387,748 litres of paint from individuals, retailers, decorators and manufacturers, and redistributed 255,785 litres of paint to individuals, families, community groups and charities, adding colour to the lives of over 176,000 people.

With a fresh reboot to the scheme earlier this year, the scheme has since prevented over 2,400 litres of paint from ending up in one of our two Waste Recycling Sites (the tip). In the last three months (July, August and September) alone, our Hanford site recorded 1899 litres of paint distributed to people carrying out DIY projects at home.

Between July and September 2022 alone, the Community Repaint Scheme helped four organisations and 100 individuals.

Councillor Carl Edwards, Cabinet member for environment and housing said: “This is a truly spectacular achievement. People are making sensible decisions and repurposing other people’s excess paint, making a saving and improving homes, community spaces and schools.

“The notion is simple, got a half-empty tin of paint you no longer need? Donate it to either our Burslem or Hanford Household Waste Recycling Centres. Alternatively, in need of some paint for a project? Head on down to one of our Household Waste Recycling Centres.”

Dan Everard, Community RePaint Network Coordinator, added: “Community RePaint Stoke-on-Trent have done a fantastic job over the last 21 years. The celebrations provide a great opportunity to recognise all the hard work that has gone into making the scheme such a success and to reflect on all their achievements which have brightened community spaces and homes over the years. We are excited to continue supporting them and look forward to seeing what they accomplish over the next 21 years and more”

Earlier this year, plot holders from Heron Cross Allotments visited the site and were able to repurpose over 30 litres of paint, which helped spruce up three fences and four sheds.

Mick Green, plot holder from Heron Cross Allotments said: “The scheme is brilliant. We are a self-managed site, so any work and repairs that need doing, we do ourselves, usually self-funded. This is a great way of us saving money.”

If you are a householder and would like to donate any excess paint or are in need of some paint for your next project, please visit either our Hanford Household Waste Recycling Centre (the tip) or Burslem Household Waste Recycling Centre (the tip). Please note, we rely on donations and cannot colour-match. Surplus paint from traders is not accepted at any of the city’s Household Waste Recycling Centres – please contact Community RePaint direct where they can provide business solutions.