The survey by Save Waste and Prosper (SWAP) demonstrated that in 2001/2 the paint, worth over 333,000 was distributed to over 4,350 projects and groups. This is an increase for the project of 35,000 litres from 2000/01 and a nine-fold increase since 1998.
The annual survey carried out by SWAP means it can keep track of its progress and monitor the types of projects that benefit from the scheme.
The paint comes from various sources including painters and decorators and end of line paint from DIY stores. The projects’ main source of paint is civic amenity sites where the public can donate half-used tins of paint. The paint is then collected, sorted and distributed by Community RePaint’s branches.
Social need
Mark Gregory, Community RePaint co-ordinator, said: “The paint goes to projects where there is any element of social need.” This includes homeless shelters, scout groups, brownie packs, sea cadets, youth clubs, schools former homeless people and refugees.
SWAP operates 45 schemes operating around the country and wants to increase this to a network of 90 by the end of 2004.
Unfortunately the paint tins still end up in landfill despite being made of desirable materials such as plate steel and aluminium. “There has been some research into recycling or re-using paint containers,” said Mr Gregory. He explained that difficulties arise from the lack of recycling facilities and the geographical distances which make it very difficult to get a critical mass to make transporting and recycling the tins viable.
Community RePaint is partly funded by Biffa Waste Services’ Landfill Tax Credits through Biffaward run by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation. The rest of the funding comes from ICI Dulux and the Community Fund.
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