Avoid paint waste

The best was to avoid paint waste is to just buy what you need. Work out exactly the amount of paint you require for a job and then only buy that amount. Your paint retailer can help you do this if you know the surface area you need to cover.

Use it up or give it away

Use leftover paint for touch-ups or apply another coat instead of disposing of it.  If you are giving it away, make sure it is in the original container with the label intact.

Dispose of it safely

Small amounts can be left to dry by removing the lid in an area away from children or animals. When the paint is completely dry, the paint and container can then be disposed of in your general rubbish.

• Don’t tip paint down storm water drains or down the household sink or toilet.
• Don’t pour onto the ground.
• Don’t mix with other wastes.

Large amounts of leftover or unwanted paint should be taken to a ‘household hazardous waste drop-off’ facility or a privately operated scheme such as the Resene PaintWise facility.

Resene PaintWise

You can take any brand of unwanted paint and paint containers into designated Resene PaintWise Collection Centres. Resene branded paint and paint containers are free to return. A small charge applies to non-Resene branded product and trade returns to help offset the costs of the PaintWise programme. The charges are $1 per 4 litre can or smaller and $2.50 per 10 litre pail or larger.
Resene will offer good quality Resene paint to community groups for reuse, recycle packaging materials that are recyclable, send solvent-borne paints to solvent recovery, find alternative uses for waterborne paints, such as graffiti abatement, and dispose of the rest for you.
To find out where your closest Resene PaintWise Collection Centre is, visit the Resene PaintWise webpage.

Cans and containers

• Steel paint cans are recyclable but must be clean and dry. 
• Plastic containers (with the paint scraped out) are also recyclable at transfer stations.
• Empty aerosol cans may be recycled or disposed of as general rubbish. Don’t puncture aerosol cans or throw into an incinerator.
• Both steel and plastic containers are accepted at Resene PaintWise Collection Centres

Brushes and rollers

For water-based paints:

• At the end of the job, wipe or squeeze excess paint onto an absorbent material, such as old rags, shredded newspapers or cardboard boxes.
• Allow to dry and dispose of with household waste.
• Wash brushes, rollers and other equipment with water in a 20 litre container.
• Transfer the washed equipment to a second container filled with clean water for a final rinse.
• Place lids on the containers or cover in some other secure manner and allow to stand overnight. This allows for the paint solids to sink to the bottom.
• In the morning, the clear water from the first container can be poured onto the garden or open area where it can be absorbed into the ground.
• The paint solids can now be left to dry and then disposed of in household rubbish.
• The second container (containing the rinse water) now becomes the first container.
• Use this rotation system until the job is complete.

For solvent-based paints use the same system with these exceptions:

• Use solvents to wash equipment.
• Allow the first container at least 24 hours to settle
• Do not pour the clear solvent onto the ground – decant and keep for future use. 
• Use the smallest container and the least amount of solvent you can.

Other tips:

• Save unnecessary washing by wrapping a paintbrush in cling wrap, this will prevent the paint drying on the brush for at least an hour – ideal for lunch breaks. Similarly put your roller into a plastic bag and tape it around the handle.
• To save you cleaning brushes and rollers whenever work is interrupted (overnight for example), immerse brushes and rollers in a container of water.  A plastic pail with a tight-fitting lid is ideal when moving from one work site to another.