1 October 2013

DIY and trade painters targeted in paint waste disposal campaign

DIY and trade painters are being targeted in a new campaign around responsible disposable of paint waste – and can win prizes by just texting a key word to an allocated number.

Rotorua District Council is conducting the Paint Waste Reduction Campaign in Rotorua over the next two months to raise awareness of environmental issues resulting from paint disposal by the paint industry, and professional and DIY painters.

RDC senior pollution control officer, Jacqui Mackle, said it was critical that people never dispose of paints or thinners in sewers or stormwater drains.

“This campaign reminds painters that everything that goes down our drains ends up in our lakes.

“Both water-based and enamel paints will cause damage to waterways if released. Paint can directly poison animals and plants and smother aquatic life. Paint also prevents light from entering the water, making it difficult for animals to find food and for plants to get essential energy. Chemicals in paint can build up in plants and animals causing long-term effects and can also make them unsafe to eat.

“To learn more about painters' responsibilities a 'Don't paint the drain' brochure can be picked up from the council Civic Centre and local paint stores, or downloaded from the RDC website www.rdc.govt.nz.

“There’s also an opportunity to send a text message and go into a draw to win prizes, including paint vouchers, paint waste treatment systems, and double passes to ‘swim with the dolphins’.”

To enter the prize draws DIY painters should text 'DIY' to 4363, while trade painters should text 'TRADE' to 4364. Texts cost 20c.

Winners will be drawn at the end of November and contacted through the cell number the text is sent from.

The Bay of Plenty region-wide Paint Waste Reduction Campaign focuses on waste minimisation and water pollution prevention. It is a collaboration of Rotorua District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Tauranga, Western Bay and Whakatane councils, Master Painters NZ, and Dulux, Wattyl and Resene paint companies.

ENDS

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