Dispose of unwanted paint and packaging with Paintback
We're proud to be a founding member of Paintback, an independent not-for-profit sustainability organisation that accepts and disposes of your unwanted paint and paint packaging and researches how to repurpose paint and materials.
How Paintback works
Do an environmentally friendly declutter of unwanted paint and packaging left in your garage, yard or business and drop them off free at a Paintback collection point. DIY and trade painters can leave up to 100 litres per visit in containers of up to 20 litres.
Paintback collects your unwanted paint and packaging from collection points and transports it for treatment where the packing and liquids are separated.
Solvent-based paint is used as fuel, replacing coal in high-temperature kilns that produce cement. The water is taken out of water-based paints, halving the volume of material going to landfill. Steel cans are turned into new steel products and plastic paint containers are recycled.
Find a Paintback drop off point
Paintback has locations to drop off your unwanted paint and packaging in all states and territories so click on our link below to find your nearest point to you or call 1300 390 380.
Paintback's commitment to research
Paintback FAQs
DIY and trade painters take their unwanted paint and packaging to a Paintback location. Paintback accepts up to 100 litres per visit stowed in containers of up to 20 litres.
Accepted paint products
Deck coatings and floor paints
Interior and exterior architectural paint
Packaging
Primers
Sealers
Stains and shellacs
Undercoats
Varnishes and urethanes (single components)
Wood coatings
Yes, empty cans and pails with dried paint inside can be dropped off at any dedicated Paintback collection point.
Drop-off is free! So there's no additional expense to the consumer, unlike tips and dumps.
Paint retailers and hardware stores are convenient locations to buy new paint, but retail and trade outlets are not equipped or licensed to handle liquid waste and cannot accept it. Dropping off unwanted paint and packaging at participating Paintback locations, or specialised commercial organisations ensures that the unwanted paint collected can be managed by suitably trained staff and stored in a purpose-built area designed to safely house the hazardous material.
To fund the collection, treatment and transportation of the unwanted paint and packaging, a levy of 15 cents (plus GST) per litre is applied to the wholesale price of eligible products in containers of more than 1 litre and up to 20 litres.