The British Coatings Federation-led pilot aims to test in-store collection of leftover paint, with a national rollout planned for mid-2027 if the three-month trial is deemed viable.
Six of the UK’s largest paint manufacturers have joined four retail chains to pilot PaintCare, a voluntary in-store takeback scheme for leftover decorative paint and empty packaging. The three-month trial in the West Midlands Combined Authority area gegan a phased rollout of collections in participating stores from February.
The PaintCare scheme is being run by the British Coatings Federation (BCF), on behalf of UK paint manufacturers, with participation from Dulux, Johnstone’s Paint, Crown Paints, Craig & Rose, Valspar and Little Greene, along with retail partners B&Q, Brewers Decorator Centres, Dulux Decorator Centres and Johnstone’s Decorating Centres hosting in-store collection points.
Around £500,000 has been invested in the trial in which consumers and tradespeople can return leftover paint and empty packaging to designated return areas in participating stores, where items must be handed directly to staff.
An estimated 55 million litres of waste decorative paint are generated in the UK each year, according to BCF figures. The current reuse rate is around two per cent, with the remainder sent to landfill, incinerated or disposed of as hazardous waste at considerable cost to local authorities.
National rollout planned for 2027
PaintCare intends to use the West Midlands trial to inform a planned national rollout in mid-2027. The scheme’s stated long-term target is to reuse or recycle 75 per cent of leftover paint by 2032, up from an estimated two per cent at present.
The pilot is designed to test consumer participation, in-store collection logistics and treatment solutions. Waste and recycling contractor Biffa is managing collection, transport and treatment of returned paint and packaging.
Tom Bowtell, chief executive of the BCF, said: “For too long, it has been too difficult for people to do the right thing with leftover paint. By working together, we can test solutions at a scale that would not be possible individually and use real evidence from this trial to help shape a system that works nationally.”
BCF and PaintCare say they intend to work with government and relevant agencies throughout the trial period, sharing data on what works and where regulatory or practical barriers may need to be addressed before a national scheme can operate.
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.