What you can do with leftover paint

Paint coverage logo Use the Dulux paint calculator to determine how much paint you need for the job. Paint containers have a coverage guide, usually shown on the back, to help you buy the right amount.

Approximately 56 million litres of paint are left unused in the UK, stored in homes and garages or just thrown away! Community RePaint provides an innovative solution to this problem, by accepting and re-distributing unwanted reusable paint to community groups, charities, voluntary organisations and those in social need.

Dulux has been a proud supporter of Community RePaint since 1993, helping develop a UK-wide network of 65 community-run paint re-use projects. Community RePaint projects also support jobs and offer work training and volunteer places, e.g. to the long-term unemployed and people with learning disabilities. Many projects also run training courses in tandem with paint re-distribution in subjects such as health and safety, manual handling, waste management and computing.

Visit www.communityrepaint.org.uk for more information.

Enter a UK town or postcode in the box below to find your nearest Community RePaint donation point.

Community RePaint

Leftover paint can be re-used as long as the container is tightly sealed and correctly stored.

To re-seal the container properly, wipe the rim clean, replace the lid, place a block of wood on top and tap it down with a hammer. Then quickly turn the container upside down to form an airtight seal – this will also help stop the paint from forming a dry skin on top.

Store the paint upright in a frost-free area (out of the sight and reach of children).