Paintback — Australia's new paint recycling scheme

Members of Australia’s paint industry have launched a new waste collection and treatment service that offers professional and home painters an easy option for disposing of unwanted paint and packaging correctly.

Founded by DuluxGroup, PPG Industries, Valspar, Haymes Paint and Resene, Paintback is said to be the first unified national scheme developed and implemented by the industry. The program aims to keep more than 45,000 tonnes out of landfill over the next five years.

According to Paintback CEO Karen Gomez, Australians buy more than 100 million litres of paint per year. “With 5% of that ending up as waste each year, unwanted paint is one of Australia’s most common sources of liquid waste found in landfill,” she said.

“The trade currently cannot use government-run schemes, which target households, so to dispose of paint safely they must use commercial disposal services, which can cost as much as $4 a litre.”

Through the Paintback program, users are charged a 15 c/L levy on eligible products of leading paint brands in Australia. This levy will account for the collection and treatment of waste paint and packaging, along with education and research, Gomez explained.

“It means that when people dispose of their waste paint at a Paintback site they won’t incur any further charges, regardless of whether they’re a residential customer or a trade painter.”

About 70 paint-specific collection points will be established over the next two years, including the 16 that are already open. Twelve of the existing sites are through a partnership with Cleanaway, which provides the expertise and significant national footprint to collect and treat the waste paint and packaging. Council waste management centres also will be invited to participate.

“We aim to have a collection service within 20–40 km of 85% of the population within five years,” Gomez said.

“We also will be undertaking a significant information and education campaign because there is the potential to make a huge difference.”

Gomez will be discussing Paintback in her opening address of the 2016 Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo (AWRE), to be held from 10–11 August at Sydney Showground. To attend the event and hear more about Paintback, product stewardship and other topical waste and recycling issues, book your seminar pass now at www.awre.com.au.