Paint recovery scheme goes regionwide
August 17, 2005

An award-winning paint recovery scheme piloted last year in North Shore City will be relaunched next month across the Auckland region.

The Paintwise project, run by Resene Paints - with the assistance of North Shore City Council and Auckland Regional Council - set out to reduce the amount of paint and packaging going to landfill.

The six-month trial, believed to be the first of its kind in New Zealand, processed more than 20 tonnes of material and returned 2000 litres of reusable paint, worth $20,000, to the North Shore community.

This service will now be provided continuously from a number of designated Resene outlets throughout Auckland, the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.

The project was recognised for its environmental leadership with a Business Environmental Leadership Award in the recently announced Auckland Regional Council Environmental Awards 2005.

North Shore City waste minimisation team leader, Bradley Nolan, says manufacturers today need to take greater responsibility for their products.

"The Paintwise scheme sets an excellent example and we are actively encouraging other manufacturers to follow suit," he says.

"We are especially keen to have the city's business sector apply for WasteWise assistance."

Paintwise is part-funded by the council's WasteWise fund, which has made $100,000 available this year to community groups, schools and businesses implementing waste reduction programmes.

Other initiatives to have been funded by WasteWise include the Kids 4 Drama school productions, multi-lingual composting tutorials, and various research projects. Applications for the next funding round close on October 21.

Unwanted paint or paint packaging can be left at the Resene ColorShop in Wairau Park any day during opening hours from September 1 onwards.

The used paint will be sorted according to its condition for safe disposal or for remixing and re-use by local schools and not-for-profit organisations. Metal containers will also be recycled.

Last year, the reusable paint benefited such groups as the Devonport Arthouse and the Glenfield Wipe-out Trust.

Careless paint disposal is one of the most common causes of pollution in our waterways and can destroy habitats, and kill fish and plants.

In North Shore City, paint products can also be safely disposed of using the mobile Hazmobile service, which will visit the Birkenhead Shopping Centre on Saturday, September 24, between 10am and 2pm.

ENDS

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