If you're looking for a figure for how much waste paint the UK produces, several organisations have published estimates. Each one counts something slightly different (decorative paint, all coatings, household leftovers or collected waste), so the most useful thing is to know who published each figure, when, and what it covers.
This guide sets out the figures we found, exactly as their sources state them, so you can quote the right one for your purposes.
The figures are national estimates. Where your question is about the paint actually sitting in your yard, surplus paint disposal covers leftover decorative stock and water based paint disposal covers water based product.
Headline Figures From PaintCare
PaintCare, the UK paint industry's stewardship scheme, cites an estimated 55 million litres of waste decorative paint generated in the UK each year. Its July 2024 presentation, 'Creating a circular economy for leftover decorative paint', sets out the fuller picture: 55 million litres, equivalent to about 71,500 tonnes; around 2% of that currently reused or remanufactured; and an estimated £21 million cost to local authorities associated with managing it.
These are scheme estimates produced by PaintCare to support the case for a paint stewardship scheme. They are the most commonly quoted figures for UK decorative paint waste and should be attributed to PaintCare with the July 2024 date when used.
The British Coatings Federation Figure
The British Coatings Federation's PaintCare page cites 34 million litres of waste decorative paint, alongside a tonnage figure of 41,000 tonnes. This is the BCF's own published estimate for the same subject area, and it is frequently cited in industry and trade coverage of the PaintCare scheme.
Both the PaintCare and BCF figures describe estimated decorative paint waste in the UK. When quoting either, name the organisation and what the figure covers: decorative paint rather than all paint and coatings, including industrial product.
Parliamentary And Official Context
The House of Commons Library published a briefing, 'Circular economy for leftover paint', on 11 November 2016. It summarises the policy debate around leftover paint and the case for a stewardship scheme, and is useful background on how the issue has been discussed in Parliament.
For official UK waste statistics more broadly, Defra's 'UK statistics on waste' publication on GOV.UK is the government series. It covers UK waste generation and treatment across waste streams; paint is not broken out as a separate category, so the paint-specific estimates above remain the figures to cite for paint waste.
Source Table
| Figure | Source And Date | What It Counts |
|---|---|---|
| 55 million litres of waste decorative paint a year | PaintCare UK, checked 12 October 2026 | Estimated decorative paint waste generated annually in the UK |
| 55 million litres / about 71,500 tonnes; around 2% reused or remanufactured; £21 million cost to local authorities | PaintCare presentation, July 2024 | Scheme estimates on volume, tonnage, current reuse rate and cost |
| 34 million litres (41,000 tonnes) of waste decorative paint | British Coatings Federation PaintCare page, checked 12 October 2026 | BCF's published estimate of decorative paint waste |
| Policy and background context on leftover paint | House of Commons Library briefing CDP-2016/0210, 11 November 2016 | Parliamentary summary of the leftover paint issue |
| UK-wide waste statistics (all streams) | Defra / GOV.UK, UK statistics on waste, last updated 23 September 2026 | Official UK waste generation and treatment data across waste streams |
Sources
Where The Information In This Guide Comes From
Guidance cited applies to England unless the source states otherwise. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland publish their own guidance, and requirements can differ.
- 1.PaintCare home · PaintCare UK, Checked 12 October 2026
- 2.PaintCare presentation: creating a circular economy for leftover decorative paint · PaintCare UK, July 2024
- 3.PaintCare · British Coatings Federation, Checked 12 October 2026
- 4.Circular economy for leftover paint (CDP-2016/0210) · House of Commons Library, Published 11 November 2016
- 5.UK statistics on waste · Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs / GOV.UK, Last updated 23 September 2026
This article is for general information only and does not constitute professional, legal or chemical advice. Waste producers are legally responsible for correctly classifying their waste. For guidance on your specific waste, please contact our team.
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