Longford paint reuse project ‘is a win-win’

Minister Hackett's visit to Longford's Employment Development and Information (EDI) Centre was to see Just Transition funds in action after the launch of the 2021 to 2027 programme in Corlea earlier on Friday morning. Revamp Longford Circular Economy Project received a grant of €161,330 to develop the facility, recycling paint and furniture upcycling, and reducing refuse going to landfill.

The most recent initiative, the Paint Reuse Project, sees them collect the old paint from civic amenity sites and process it to a re-usable product. The project, coordinated through Revamp, will see thousands of litres of paint saved from incineration.
Revamp stocks this non-hazardous, water based paint in its retail outlet in Mastertech Park.

Breda Murphy, the EDI Centre Coordinator, said the Just Transition Fund presents great opportunities for social enterprise: “The potential we are going to have going forward is unlimited.

“It has taken three and a half years to bring it to this stage. It has enhanced our retail store here. The paint has been on sale here for the last couple of months.”

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A bold investment in our future and one that will ensure no community is left behind.

Ms Murphy said the social enterprise embodies the goals of the Just Transition: “The end goal is jobs, lowering carbon emissions and providing service to the community. We are doing all of this.”

Minister Hackett commended the work: “The diversity of what has been achieved here over the last 25 years is truly impressive. You have evolved this over the years and that is going to continue.”

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Minister Hackett said the project represented “the community working together for the common good” adding: “It's epitomised here. I wish you all the very best.”

Store Manager Enda McManus explained how the initiative has a positive impact on the environment: “Our core aims fall under the three pillars of sustainability; the social, the economic and the environmental. Last year Revamp diverted 51,000 kilos of furniture from landfill. Saving around 50,000 tonnes of carbon.

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“In our latest project we take the paint from the civic amenity sites, paint that has been left in by customers for waste. We sort through it and pick what we can use. In our Revamp facility we process it and mix colours. It is then available to buy. It's a win-win.

“Paint is considered hazardous waste so currently it goes to be incinerated in Germany. By taking it out of the waste chain we save on incineration, so we are reducing carbon emission and it's more cost effective for the user,” Mr McManus said.