Clear out old paint to help groups decorate

FAMILIES are being given the chance to rid themselves of unwanted paint in a green drive during Climate Week.

Crown Decorator Centre in Beverley Road is offering to recycle surplus paint in its Kick Out The Can scheme.

The two-week programme starts at the beginning of Climate Week on Monday, March 4.

The paint will be processed and donated to community projects, and leftover plastic and metal paint containers will be recycled.

Sustainability manager Mark Lloyd said: "We are delighted to be launching our recycling campaign.

"It is a major initiative for us and something that will make a positive difference to the environment.

"Most households have old paint containers and tins dotted around the home and people are not always sure what to do with them."

The company estimates there are about 54 million litres of unused paint in homes nationwide, enough to fill 30 Olympic swimming pools.

Mr Lloyd said: "Our scheme gives householders a useful opportunity to give their spring clean a boost and to ensure their old paint, as well as the containers and tins are transformed."

Regeneration charity Groundwork will distribute the recycled paint to worthy causes.

Spokesman Amanda Atherton said: "One of our biggest roles at Groundwork is to help people and businesses reduce their environmental impact and make a difference in their local communities.

"The paint that's brought back to Crown Decorating Centres will be donated to community projects.

"It can be used to transform community halls, youth centres and green spaces."

Groundwork will be particularly targeting groups short of cash.

Ms Atherton said: "This campaign will transform the work of community groups and projects that are struggling for funding. We hope people will be inspired to go into their cupboards and garages and clear out unwanted paint so we can use it to make a big difference."

Climate Week is Britain's biggest climate change campaign.

Each year, half a million people attend 3,000 events run by schools, businesses, charities and councils.

In 2008, Crown launched sustainability programme Earthbalance.

It is aiming for a 10 per cent cut in its carbon emissions by 2015 and a 25 per cent cut by 2020.

The company, which has a major production site in Hull, sends no waste to landfill.

Crown's sector support manager Vernon Kinrade said: "We are well on track with our green commitment.

"However, there's still plenty to do and we see sustainability as a mission for the entire organisation.

"It's not just about filling a market niche, it's about changing the way we do business."

The company claims to have a longstanding commitment to responsible production.

Mr Kinrade said: "Our focus is to minimise energy, reduce, reuse or recycle waste wherever feasible and develop continuous improvement programmes and innovation initiatives to inspire products and processes with the lowest possible ecological impact.

"We also apply responsible raw material sourcing, considering the environmental and ethical effects of raw materials used within our business.

"We are not just focused on providing a few niche 'green' products. By measuring and evaluating the carbon footprint of everything we do, we can make improvements, without impacting on the quality of the paint we produce.

Visit www.youtube.com/crown paint for a video giving more details about the campaign for Climate Week.