DRJ PAINTING

You’ve finished your painting project, the house looks fantastic, but you’re left with a collection of half-empty paint cans, dirty turps, and other chemical leftovers. It’s tempting to just chuck them in your council wheelie bin or pour them down the drain, but this is both illegal and incredibly harmful to the environment. Paint and solvents are classified as household hazardous waste. Tipping them down the sink can damage plumbing and pollute our waterways, while putting them in landfill can lead to soil and groundwater contamination. Thankfully, Australia has a fantastic, free national scheme that makes responsible disposal easy.

First: Use It, Store It, or Give It Away

The most environmentally friendly option is to not have waste in the first place. Before you look to dispose of paint, consider these options:

• Save for Touch-Ups: Always keep a small, clearly labelled sample of your paint for future touch-ups. A small glass jar or a dedicated touch-up pot works well.
• Use it Up: If you have a decent amount of paint left, consider another small project. Could you paint the inside of a closet, a piece of furniture, or a garden shed?
• Give it Away: Offer your leftover paint to a friend, neighbour, or family member. Local community groups, schools, or men's sheds are also often grateful for paint donations.

The Official Solution: PaintBack

For any paint or paint packaging you can't use, the official solution in Australia is PaintBack®. This is a national, industry-funded scheme that takes back unwanted paint and packaging, diverting it from landfill and waterways.

• What is It?: PaintBack is a network of permanent and pop-up collection sites across Australia, usually located at council waste and recycling centres.
• How Does it Work?: You simply take your unwanted paint and containers to a designated PaintBack site and drop them off for free.
• What Can You Drop Off?: The scheme accepts most architectural and decorative paints, including water-based and oil-based paints, deck coatings, stains, and varnishes. It also accepts the empty containers.
• What Are the Limits?: You can drop off up to 100 litres per visit, secured in containers of 20 litres or less.
• How to Find a Site: The easiest way to find your nearest collection point is to visit the PaintBack website (paintback.com.au) and use their location finder.

Dealing with Solvents and Other Chemicals

Chemicals like mineral turpentine (turps), paint thinners, and methylated spirits cannot be disposed of via PaintBack or poured down the drain. These are highly hazardous.

• Use Your Council's Chemical CleanOut: Every local council in Australia runs periodic "Household Chemical CleanOut" days. This is a free service where you can drop off a range of household chemicals, including solvents, thinners, fuels, and garden pesticides.
• Find a Collection Day: Check your local council's website or the website of your state's environmental protection agency (e.g., NSW EPA) to find the date and location of the next event near you.

Quick Tips for Safe Handling

• Keep Products in Original Containers: Always transport paints and chemicals in their original, clearly labelled containers. Do not mix them together.
• Ensure Lids are Secure: Make sure all lids are tightly sealed to prevent spills during transport.
• Dry Out Empty Cans (Latex Paint Only): If you have an almost empty can of water-based (latex/acrylic) paint, you can leave the lid off in a well-ventilated area until the paint is completely hardened. Once it is a solid block, it can sometimes be disposed of in your regular council bin, but always check your local council's specific regulations first. Never do this with oil-based paint.