Can I Dispose of Paint Tins with a Skip?

If you have started renovating your home or office in the past few months, you may be wondering what is the best method to get rid of leftover paint tins.

Unlike other waste types, paint tins are classed as hazardous waste and thus require special treatment when it comes to their disposal.

In our latest blog, we will provide all the answers you need regarding paint tin recycling plus tips on disposing of them responsibly.

How to Dispose of the Paint

When you have finished your DIY project and are ready to throw out the leftovers, you will need to dispose of the excess paint from the old paint tins. There are a number of options available for getting rid of unused paint. Just make sure you do not pour it down the sink.

Pouring away unused paint blocks your sink plus it is a major environmental concern with its harmful chemicals in the paint potentially poisoning fish. You do have a number of options before you start looking at paint disposal companies which could also save you some money.

Here are some options to consider for unused paint –

Donate – Donating unused paint is a great option which can help someone finish off their DIY project plus you can get rid of your paint tins responsibly. Here are some areas you can donate your unwanted paint –

Family and Friends – You can always ask any family or friends if they are starting some DIY work soon and then your paint is not going to waste.

Charity and Community Groups – If you are donating unused paint to charity or a community group, you can start asking around for anyone who needs paint for a project near to you. This will save the charity or community group money on supplies too.

Household Waste Recycling Centres – If your unused paint is completely out of use it will need to be taken to a licensed recycling centre. Remember leftover paint will need to harden before it can be taken to a recycling facility.

Throwing out Empty Paint Tins

If you have used all your paint up or have disposed of the excess paint separately now it is time to get rid of the tins. It is a common myth that you can throw empty paint tins into your mixed recycling but this is not possible. Empty paint tins are still labelled as hazardous and require special care when throwing them out. This prevents harmful chemicals from ending up as landfill.

Can I Put Paint Tins in a Skip?

Old paint tins cannot be loaded into one of our skips as the paint itself is now banned from the landfill because of the hazardous chemicals. You need to treat paint tins with care when getting rid of them.

Can I Recycle Paint Tins?

Even with excess liquid paint, old paint tins can be recycled in most recycling centres all over the UK. Just make sure they are empty and give your local recycling centre a call to see if they accept paint tins.

Where Can Old Paint Tins be Taken?

As previously mentioned, old paint tins can be taken to your local recycling facility just make sure you specify whether the tin has any paint left inside as this may affect the facility collecting it.