Can You Recycle Paint? Your Questions Answered
One of the simplest ways to reduce your carbon footprint and live more sustainably is by recycling. This means reusing precious materials, like the organic minerals found in paints, in effective and imaginative ways. Discover how you can reduce waste when decorating your home by recycling your leftover paint and paint tins.
How could I reuse my leftover paint?
Repurposing is an innovative and sustainable way to recycle your excess paint. Consider making use of leftover paint for smaller projects. This might include painting pieces of furniture, door architraves, the inside of a bookcase or even a window frame.
Recycling paint in this way allows you to get creative with colour. Why not add a joyful colour highlight to your staircase by using a bold shade? Or update your skirting for an instant refresh? Take inspiration from this striking design, which creates a focal point with sparing yet highly impactful use of colour.
Alternatively, you could ask a friend or neighbour if they might find a use for your remaining paint. Or you may like to gift larger amounts to community groups. There are also some charity organisations that arrange to donate paint to local causes.
Walls: Loft White
Skirting: Urbane Grey, Lamp Black
Stair Risers: Trumpet
Flooring: Shallows
Wall: Shirting
Stripes: Jack Black
Coloured squares: Tan, Mocha, Deep Space Blue
Foreground wall: Vincent
Can you recycle paint?
If you are unable to find a creative use for your leftover paint, some local recycling centres accept paint for recycling.
Wall: Sage Green
Ceiling: Slaked Lime - Mid
Is paint recyclable on a larger scale?
Precious raw ingredients and chemicals are so easily disposed of in ways that are harmful to the environment. As with many environmental issues, perhaps the most effective way to tackle the problem is at an industry level. That’s why Little Greene has launched an exciting collection of upcycled paints called ‘Re:mix’.
Our upcycled paint collection, Re:mix, recycles our unwanted and waste paints into a beautiful matt finish. After substantial research, our team of chemists have developed intelligent blending techniques to enable this industry-first venture. The Re:mix collection is available in 20 Little Greene shades and can be purchased on our website, while stocks last.
Wall: Sunlight
Woodwork: Ceviche
Can my empty paint tins be recycled?
As with paint, the recycling of old paint tins comes in several different forms. The most obvious option is waste recycling. Little Greene tins can safely be recycled through your local household waste recycling centre.
Alternatively, with a little imagination, empty paint tins can in fact become useful household items. You could choose to repurpose your tin into a kitchen utensil holder or even a plant pot. Just make sure to rinse out your tin with warm soapy water until all the paint residue has gone.
For our Re:mix collection, we produced a unique paint tin which features a bespoke design by freelance artist and maker, Caroline Dowsett. Each tin will remain a beautiful addition to the home, long after the walls have been painted. With every purchase, we provide some suggestions for how you could upcycle your Re:mix tin.
Discover our Re:Mix recycled paint collection and find out more about our eco-friendly paints.