If you’re just finishing up a major home improvement project, chances are you have some opened tins of paints lying around. And while these can be useful to store away for future touch-ups, tins that are nearly finished or you just don’t need any more are best disposed of.
Can paints and solvents go into a skip?
Tins of opened paint, along with solvents, should never be disposed of in a skip – however tempting it seems to chuck them in with the other waste from your renovation project. Paints and solvents are considered hazardous waste and can be damaging to health and the environment.
What should you do with old paints?
Ideally, you can keep paints for further use – just be sure to open them carefully to avoid damaging the sealing ring and store them upright in a place where they won’t be exposed to frost. Alternatively, donate old paints to family or friends, or to a local project such as Community Repaint. Pouring paint down the drain is a big no-no – it causes huge blockage problems and is highly damaging to the environment.
How do you recycle paints and solvents?
If you can’t think of another use for your paints, or if they’re simply past their best or discoloured, they will need to be safely disposed of.
Councils cannot accept liquid paint, so they can’t go in your usual household waste – you’ll need to harden the old paint before disposal.
You can buy a special paint hardener or add sawdust or sand to the tin and leave the lid off until the paint becomes solid and dry. If it’s just a small amount of paint, you can paint it on old pieces of card and then dispose of it in your skip or ordinary household waste.
Solvent based paint, paint thinner and white spirit should be disposed of as hazardous waste at your nearest hazardous waste disposal service.
Rabbit is committed to reducing waste and supporting recycling efforts. Contact Rabbit online today for more information on skip hire, recycling and plant hire. Reach us on 01903 762020 or email info@rabbitgroup.co.uk.
