All items · Hazardous materials
Paint, solvents and household chemicals
Also covers: emulsion, gloss paint, white spirit, weedkiller, pesticide, bleach
Why shops refuse it
Shops can't store or sell hazardous liquids.
What to do instead
Community RePaint schemes rehome usable paint; councils take chemicals at recycling centres (check which site first).
Charity by charity
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Can't accept
British Heart Foundation
Also poisonous, toxic or hazardous substances, and firelighters/barbeque lighting tools (flammable items).
Their wording
“Cleaning agents, solvents, adhesives”
-
Can't accept
British Red Cross
Also solvents and solvent-based products.
Their wording
“Flammable items such as firelighters and barbeque lighting tools”
-
Can't accept
Cancer Research UK
Also spray paint and poisons.
Their wording
“Chemical items (cleaning agents, solvents, adhesives etc)”
-
Can't accept
Cornwall Hospice Care
Also cleaning agents, solvents, adhesives
Their wording
“Chemicals, paint thinners, aerosols”
-
Can't accept
DEBRA
Also covers poisons.
Their wording
“Glues, solvents, and aerosols”
-
Can't accept
Dorothy House
Their wording
“Cleaning agents, solvents and Adhesives”
-
Can't accept
Emmaus
Includes flammable liquids.
Their wording
“Flammables, gas cylinders, paints and gas appliances”
-
Can't accept
FARA Charity Shops
Their wording
“FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, GAS CANISTERS, PAINT POTS”
-
Can't accept
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Their wording
“Solvents and adhesives”
-
Can't accept
LOROS Hospice
Their wording
“Hazardous chemicals”
-
Can't accept
Overgate Hospice
Their wording
“Cleaning agents, solvents and adhesives”
-
Can't accept
Princess Alice Hospice
Their wording
“Cleaning agents, solvents and adhesives”
-
Can't accept
Shaw Trust
Also toxic substances generally.
Their wording
“cleaning products”
-
Can't accept
St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
Their wording
“Cleaning agents, solvents and adhesives”
-
Can't accept
St Christopher's Hospice
Chemicals
-
Can't accept
St Peter's Hospice
Their wording
“Cleaning agents, solvents and adhesives”
-
Can't accept
Sue Ryder
Exception: artist's paints can be sold. Also covers glue, aerosols, methylated spirits and mercury thermometers.
Their wording
“paint (including aerosol paint) - this does not apply to artist's paints, which we can sell”
-
Can't accept
Wales Air Ambulance
Their wording
“Chemical items”
Not mentioned in 26 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Not mentioned Acorns Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Age UK
- Not mentioned Barnardo's
- Not mentioned Claire House Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Crisis
- Not mentioned Dogs Trust
- Not mentioned Keech Hospice Care
- Not mentioned Marie Curie
- Not mentioned Octavia Foundation
- Not mentioned Oxfam
- Not mentioned PDSA
- Not mentioned Phyllis Tuckwell
- Not mentioned Salvation Army (SATCoL)
- Not mentioned Samaritans
- Not mentioned Save the Children
- Not mentioned Scope
- Not mentioned Sense Scotland
- Not mentioned Shelter
- Not mentioned St Giles Hospice
- Not mentioned St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
- Not mentioned The Children's Trust
- Not mentioned Traid
- Not mentioned Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
- Not mentioned Willen Hospice
- Not mentioned Woodgreen Pets Charity
- Not mentioned YMCA (England & Wales)