Waste paint program begins across Aus

Some of the paint that usually ends up in Australian landfills will be used to replace fossil fuel as part of a campaign to make it easier for people to dispose of unused paint.

The Paintback program by major paint companies, and backed by state and federal governments, is expected to keep more than 45,000 tonnes of waste paint and packaging from professional and home painters out of landfill over the next five years.

The program begins in May, and is funded by a waste levy of 15 cents per litre to the wholesale price of architectural and decorative paints.