100 Tonnes of Paint Saved from Waste Disposal by the Rediscovery Centre
Minister of State for Small Business and Retail and Circular Economy, Alan Dillon TD, joined the Rediscovery Centre team to celebrate a major milestone for their Rediscover Paint programme.
Ireland’s first paint reuse initiative is celebrating saving over 100 tonnes of paint from incineration – the equivalent in weight to 200 grand pianos.
Since the inception of Rediscover Paint 18 years ago, this social enterprise has collected unwanted paint from recycling centres, remixed and redistributed the paint, turning it into a valuable community resource. What began as a local initiative is now a national model for circular economy success, preventing waste, reducing carbon emissions, promoting reuse, and providing high quality paint to people at an affordable price.
The success of Rediscover Paint laid the groundwork for a nationwide expansion in the Paint Reuse Network, led by the Rediscovery Centre and supported by the Regional Waste Authorities. Since 2021, the network has supported eight new paint reuse operators and additional services at more than 25 recycling centres nationwide – with more expansion on the horizon through upcoming EPA-funded research.
“We’ve come a long way since Rediscover Paint started, and we’re looking forward to the next 100 tonnes that we can save and redistribute! Rediscover Paint provides great quality and inexpensive paint to all our customers. A fresh coat of paint and colour can really change a space. Rediscover Paint is good for the planet and great for your pocket.
We are very passionate about the work that we do at the Rediscovery Centre. We’re not just saving paint from incineration; we’re giving back to the community, supporting jobs, building skills, and contributing to the circular economy.”
Dave Kavanagh, Programme Manager of Rediscover Paint
"Visiting the Rediscovery Centre, I am truly inspired by the scope and scale of what’s being achieved there. This is circularity in action - innovative, practical, and deeply rooted in community. It truly sets a national benchmark for what best-practice circularity and sustainability looks like."
Minister of State for Small Business and Retail and Circular Economy, Alan Dillon TD
About the Rediscovery Centre
The Rediscovery Centre is the National Centre for the Circular Economy. Since 2004, the centre has been leading Ireland’s transition to a circular economy and low-carbon, sustainable future.
Based in Europe’s first circular economy demonstration centre, Rediscovery Centre acts as an innovation hub, delivering education, providing research and enabling policy, citizen engagement and collaboration to support community action. Recognising that a just transition requires a social movement, the Centre uses their skills and expertise to ensure that all people benefit from, and can participate in, the circular economy.
About the Paint Reuse Network
The Paint Reuse Network is a membership-based organisation dedicated to reducing paint waste in Ireland. Led by the Rediscovery Centre and supported by Ireland’s Regional Waste Management Planning Offices, the network brings together groups and organisations involved in paint reuse with a shared vision to give paint a second life.
We support paint reuse through knowledge sharing, best practice guidance, and facilitating connections between members. We also advocate for changes in how households and businesses manage unused paint, increasing public awareness of its potential for reuse and redistribution for the benefit of local communities and the environment.
The network has members across Ireland, including: The Rediscovery Centre, Cycle Sense, IRD Duhallow Furniture Revamp, Renew Enterprises, Tait House Community Enterprise, Revamp Longford, Northside Community Enterprises, Bryson Recycling, and Habitat Restore.
Contact:
Lizzy Gageby Bell
Communications & Marketing Lead, Rediscovery Centre
communications@rediscoverycentre.ie
01 893 3801
