Unwanted Paint Priming the Way in Road Construction 

“We want the humble household paint to become a showcase for the circular economy.”

To do this, Paintback has partnered with the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) – the National Transport Research Organisation. Together they are researching how reclaimed water-based paint can have a beneficial use in road infrastructure applications.

ARRB Principal Professional, Sustainability and Material Performance, Dr. James Grenfell said the project would investigate the use of reclaimed water-based paint in the following applications:

• Rejuvenation type products involving bitumen emulsions
• Stabilisation of granular materials
• Dust suppressants
• Non-structural concrete for low-risk road applications

“There is the strong potential that this project will develop materials solutions and blends that can be up-scaled and produced at the plant scale with a view to being introduced into general infrastructure construction and rehabilitation works,” Dr. Grenfell said.

Last year alone, Australians returned 9.3 million kg of paint and pails to Paintback, which runs more than 160 permanent collection points across the country to collect the paint and ensure it is disposed of safely or converted for other uses, like creating an alternative fuel for kilns, or extracting water from latex paint for use in industry.

Paintback research shows that, while one in three Australians have old or leftover paint at home, more than half (54 percent) of them didn’t know there were organisations to help them dispose of paint safely. Given that 5% of paint purchased each year ends up surplus to requirements, this isn’t just an issue for the environment, it’s a big opportunity as well.

“If we can make Australia’s unwanted paint a hero of our circular economy, we help protect the environment, reduce the amount of paint in landfill, and support local innovation,” Dr Al-Assafi said.

Find out more about Paintback here.

Find out more about ARRB’s research labs here