Last year 400 million litres of paint (retail and trade) were sold in the UK. Of this, it is estimated that approximately 80 million litres are unused, stored in homes or garages or just thrown away. Thats enough paint to fill 33 Olympic-sized swimming pools!
Residents can now recycle their old paint at Slag Lane Leigh and Frog Lane Wigan Household Waste Recycling Centres.
Please see the site staff at these locations. We can accept useable household paints which are under 10 years old (sorry, no paint cleaning or varnish products).
What paint can I recycle?
These are the acceptable materials at the borough's sites:
- emulsion paint (including vinyl matt and vinyl silk emulsions)
- gloss
- eggshell
- satin paint
- undercoat
- primer
- floor paint
- masonry paint
- exterior paint
- tile paint.
Sorry, we cannot accept car paint, aerosols, varnish or cleaning products.
How does the scheme work?
Wigan Council have signed an agreement with WiganRecycles Ltd to collect waste paint from the Slag Lane and Frog Lane sites.
WiganRecycles can only collect paints which they can safely and productively reuse. The local not-for-profit social enterprise firm will make use of the old paint by passing it to local organisations for their use. They are happy to hear from local groups who can make use of the millions of litres of unused, but useable, paint we throw away.
They will then give the paint out, free of charge, to community groups, voluntary groups and youth groups across the borough as part of Community RePaint (external link). WiganRecycles are also talking to some of the retailers and wholesalers of paint in the borough with a view to taking their waste.
How do local organisations get paint?
This is a “membership” project. So, if your group would like to make use of the paint, you must register with WiganRecycles. Their services are free, but by registering they can liaise with you and your group to ensure a close relationship and proper assistance with the project you are working on. Contact them on the links below.
WiganRecycles are also working on an online calalogue where organisations will be able to browse stock type and quality.
Residents and organisations who wish to enquire about the service should contact them directly using the details below. For information about other recycling services offered by the council, please use the links on the top left of this page.
Thank you for supporting recycling in Wigan Borough.
