Posted By Paul Leadbetter Ronan If they are unopened and fairly new, will the manufacturer take it back? Paul

Posted By stevehaigh For larger amounts and all solvent-based product disposal, speak to your local authority who will advice on the best course of action.

Posted By rks do a car boot sale.

Posted By Jonathan Breeze What is the type of product? Assuming the product is not frost damaged, the supplier may take it back by agreement. Alternatively, Jane's suggestion sounds good and may even be used by you as a PR opportunity. Failing this do you have a large factory that needs painting in the near future? If the product is however frost damaged, then licenced disposal is your only real option. Water based products still contain large quantities of resins, pigments, fillers and other nasties which must NOT be disposed to foul sewer. Similarly liquids must NOT be disposed via your normal landfill route. (Perhaps an ESG member could clarify current law on this?) I'm sure you weren't going to do the above, but I have had the conversation before, so it was worth stating explicitly.

Posted By John A Wright This is yet another example of posters responding on a thread where there is insufficient information. The mention of 'waterbased paint' and the respondents assume Ronan has 50 tins of household decorative paint. Ronan may have industrial paint, e.g. protective coatings, automotive coatings which require special spraying equipment for proper application, they may also require warm/hot air and even ovens at 140degC to dry, being water-based it may have been frozen last winter and has now settled out and is useless, it may be a primer so it's not suitable for use outside, so suggesting a car boot or giving the paint to a local community centre etc etc may present further problems. Ronan, please provide more information about the paint, it's age, condition and how it should be applied (brush, roller, spray gun etc) and what it's original purpose was e.g. decorative, anti-corrosive, primer, exterior coating etc. John W

Posted By Jonathan Breeze All good points John, we do need more information on the product. The product I had in mind was an exterior masonry paint.

Posted By Jonathan Breeze The problem with water based paints is that they dry slower in winter because of higher relative humidity levels and cooler temperatures. You're more likely to end up with spillages due to rainwater collection in the open buckets. It might work for smaller quantities in the summer though.

Posted By Lee Daniels We have the same issue, 50 or so tins of paint left over from a contract which we will never use. I have contacted a charity through their website and they are willing to accept paint in a usable condition, including part full tins, subject to a few criteria e.g. paint must not have hazardous properties such as toxic or corrosive. It's all on their website www.communityrepaint.org.uk They may charge a nominal fee but it would be far cheaper than your disposal quote.