Toowoomba Regional Council to join ACCC’s Paintback scheme to save $25k

A new product stewardship program will be introduced at Toowoomba’s main waste facility, which will allow residents and businesses to responsibly dispose of hundreds of litres of paint.

The Greater Toowoomba waste management facility at Wellcamp will accept up to 100 litres of paint from domestic and commercial customers, as part of joining a new program.

Residents will be able to recycle and dispose of their unused paint at no cost to ratepayers, with the councile endorsing a new scheme that is expected to save up $25,000 a year.

Councillors voted at Tuesday’s committee meeting to sign up with Paintback, a product stewardship program authorised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The council will enter into an agreement with the program, which will result in the proper disposal of up to 100 litres of decorative and architectual paints from domestic and commercial sources.

Currently just 20 litres can be accepted at council waste facilities for domestic customers only.

Waste services manager Matt Torr said the move represented a significant cost saving to the council.

“The engagement of Paintback for the collection and disposal of paints provides the only opportunity for this service at no cost to council, while also providing an environmentally responsible option for paint disposal,” his report said.

“The represents a saving of approximately $25k compared with the existing collection and disposal method.”

The disposal point will be at the Greater Toowoomba waste management facility in Wellcamp.

The motion was passed unanimously.