Protect our waterways and dispose of paint safely

30 Jul 2026

The message is simple: The outside drain leads to the stream… and then to the sea.

No Paint In Drains, an initiative by Restore Hibiscus & Bays, highlights the implications of dumping paint down our outdoor drains, as well as what you can do to keep our waterways healthy and free from pollution.

89% of New Zealand’s indigenous freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened. Our outdoor drains flow directly into our streams, estuaries and out to sea, and simple behaviour change can make an immediate difference to the health of our environment.

Stream advocate and water quality monitor Viv Walker has spent years undertaking quarterly stream monitoring. During this work, Viv and the wider Restore Hibiscus & Bays team have witnessed a concerning increase in paint pollution entering local waterways. 

Social media community pages also highlight growing frustration about painters washing paint equipment into drains and streams. Plus, at the 2025 Wai Care Convention, water quality monitors from across Auckland confirmed they were seeing similar paint contamination issues in their own regions.

What can you do?

There are proper ways to clean your paint equipment. For example, the Two Pot Method, which reduces paint into a more solid state, making it easier to dispose of. This is good for larger home projects or commercial painters. But there are other ways too…

Have a quick read of the No Paint In Drains brochure for the proper ways of disposing, re-using and recycling paint. And for more info on the campaign and how to protect our waterways visit the website.

If you’re ever unsure, a quick call or visit to your local paint store, like a Resene ColorShop, can answer all your questions about leftover paint and what to do with it.

Published: 30 Jul 2026