Leftover paint is one of the most common sources of liquid waste in landfills but we can dispose of old paint in a safe and practical way – and disposal is free.
Australians buy more than 100 million litres of paint a year. About five million litres ends up in landfill, along with the packaging and materials that go with it.
Leftover paint can contaminate groundwater and should not be put into garbage bins.
However, if you deliver unwanted paint to the Albury Recycling Centre, it will be mixed with other waste solvents and used as an alternative fuel in cement kilns. The metal containers are also recycled.
Remember, you should never mix your paint with other chemicals, and if possible you should keep your paint in its original containers.
We have partnered with Paintback, which collects the paint and packaging from the Albury Recycling Centre and transports it for treatment. The packaging and waste liquid are separated. Waste paint is treated in a number of ways including energy recovery for solvent and liquid/solid separation for water-based paint, significantly minimising pressures on our landfill.
Household users and trade painters can drop off the following items for free:
- Interior and exterior architectural paint
- Deck coatings and floor paints
- Primers, undercoats and sealers
- Stains and shellacs
- Varnishes and urethanes (single component)
- Wood coatings
- Packaging