Where can I take unused paint?

[Sue]

Southwark Council's website says the recycling centre does not take "paint tins" but paint is not mentioned anywhere.

I have a load of paint tins with unused (and so old that it might be  unusable) paint. Some of them are full, or nearly full.

What can I do with them?  Put them in the green bin with the paint in?

I've found another website (not the council) which says that the Southwark recycling centre does take paint, so now I'm thoroughly confused. And it also says not to put paint in with general household rubbish. I've got to do something with it!

Edited December 20, 2023 by Sue
Adding information

[Moovart]

I've taken paint to the recycling centre in old Kent road in the last year. They have a stack of cans and tubs which I believe you can take away as well if you ask so that it actually gets used up.  Worth a visit.

[chris_i]

Yes I believe if the tin is half full they will take it to be reused, else they are happy for empty or dried out tins to be added to the big household waste container. 

To dry you just need to leave the lid off - it will take some time! 

Edited December 20, 2023 by chris_i

[h3+]

I would try leaving it outside your house with a note saying its free. I've done this and the tin goes in a few hours 

or https://communityrepaint.org.uk/i_need_paint/southwark/

[Sue]

1 hour ago, h3+ said:

I would try leaving it outside your house with a note saying its free. I've done this and the tin goes in a few hours 

or https://communityrepaint.org.uk/i_need_paint/southwark/

That would have been a good idea, but for the fact that  someone recently trailed blue paint all over several walls in my road, apparently deliberately 🙄, so I'm not risking it. Also a cat trod in it so there were blue paw prints (and presumably a cat with paint on its paws 😭)

Thanks for the useful link, h3+, and the  other replies. I did think I had seen paint cans at the tip in the past, which was why I was confused when I checked on the website.

I will take them there!

Edited December 20, 2023 by Sue

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

4 hours ago, Sue said:

Southwark Council's website says the recycling centre does not take "paint tins" but paint is not mentioned anywhere.

The website says you can't put "paint tins" in normal recycling: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/recycling/what-goes-in-recycling

And also that you shouldn't take normal recycling along to the tip: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/recycling/recycling-centres/reuse-and-recycling-centre?chapter=3

But I can't see anything that says you can't take paint tins to the tip. In any case, you definitely can take paint there. Good luck!

[FHfriend]

You can arrange free collection of paint here

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/waste-and-recycling/commercial-waste/hazardous-waste-collection

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

"Exceptions

We do not collect from the London Borough of Hillingdon"

Too right. Piss off, Hillingdonians, you're so far west you're practically Cornish!

[malumbu]

There are charities that reuse it, www.southwark.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/recycling/community-repaint  

Well done Southwark for promoting this!

[Sue]

Took it all to the tip today, no problems, thanks everyone ❤️