29 August 2005
Painting the Town Green
Resene is painting the town green with the launch of a permanent Resene PaintWise paint and paint packaging recovery
program, the first comprehensive New Zealand product stewardship program for home decorators.
Following nearly five years of development, Be PaintWise was launched in 2004 by Resene to encourage paint users to
minimise the effects of their decorating on the environment. The first year of Be PaintWise included an unwanted paint
and paint packaging recovery trial in Auckland to help homeowners recycle and dispose of their unwanted paint and paint
packaging. Thousands and thousands of cans were returned to the Resene PaintWise service, some empty, many partially
full of paint. Nearly 2000 litres of Resene paint in good condition was returned to the community through community
groups, such as graffiti tag out trusts, arthouses, schools and the Paint Hutt City Beautiful project. Metal cans were
recycled.
Responsible recovery has progressed rapidly since the end of the trial, with a permanent Resene PaintWise service being
launched in Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty on 1 September 2005. From 1 September residents in these areas can
bring in unwanted paint and paint packaging, any brand, to selected Resene ColorShops.
A PaintWise mobile truck service visits the stores, processing the materials received before returning to its Auckland
depot. Good quality Resene paint will be provided free to community groups, packaging will be recycled and remaining
paint will be diverted to other non-profit uses where possible to minimise paint going to landfill.
In 2005, Resene PaintWise has been awarded the ARC Environmental Business Leadership Award and a Packaging Council Award
for Excellence for Environmentally Acceptable Packaging.
ENDS