Media release

Booming North Shore pilot takes PaintWise programme nationwide
May 11, 2007

The Resene PaintWise service piloted in North Shore City is going nationwide, giving all New Zealanders the opportunity to dispose sensibly of their unwanted paint to safeguard the environment.

Traditionally pioneers of recycling, North Shore residents were the first to participate and will continue to use the service launched in 2005 with a contribution from the council’s WasteWise Fund.

Resene’s managing director, Nick Nightingale, says “the support we received from the North Shore City Council and community for the programme has been tremendous. This has given us the confidence to roll Resene PaintWise out nationally.”

The popular PaintWise programme was launched nationwide this month, offering a sustainable solution for safe disposal of New Zealand’s unwanted paint.

In North Shore City alone the programme has recovered more than 20,000 packs of paint so far.

Instead of going to landfill or blocking drains, this leftover paint is now helping up to 10 community projects a month in the city, including anti-graffiti groups such as the unTAG trust. Metal paint containers are also recycled and solvent based-paints are refined for re-use.

Before the service began, North Shore residents only had the options of disposing their unwanted household paint with the Hazmobile service four times each year, or drying out waterbased paints before disposing of them in domestic rubbish.

North Shore City’s waste minimisation manager, Bradley Nolan, says the programme has made a significant difference to the way paint is disposed of.

“The flow on effect for the environment and now the rest of the country is tremendous. We are positive that the nationwide programme will be just as successful.”

The PaintWise programme allows residents to deliver unwanted paint and packaging to most Resene Colorshop stores seven days a week, 360 days a year. The service is funded by both monthly contributions from Resene and charging a PaintWise levy on all retail paint sold.

Resene branded paint and containers purchased by retail customers may be returned to Resene Colorshops at no cost. Non Resene branded paints will be charged a small fee, $1 per four litre can or smaller, and $2.50 per 10 litre pail or larger.

North Shore City is working to bring other paint suppliers into the PaintWise programme.

It is estimated that about twenty per cent of water pollution events in North Shore City involve people illegally washing paint or equipment or tipping old paint down storm water drains.

PaintWise stores in North Shore City:

Wairau Park: 8 Croftfield Lane, 444 4387

Albany, Cnr Tawa Drive and Rosedale Rd, 414 6500

ENDS

www.northshorecity.govt.nz

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