Re>Paint and Re>Tool
Overview
One of Orinoco's main activities is the collection and redistribution of
unused paint and used (and often unused) garden tools. Orinoco stocks literally
hundreds of types of paint and tools. Paint colours range from simple white to
tango pink. Water based and oil based paints are also available. Tools show the
same variety -- with rakes, shovels and other garden tools being preferred to
carpenter or other types of tools.
Collections so far
Orinoco, with the financial support of Oxfordshire County Council and the national
Re>paint and Re>tool scheme, has "rescued" a large number of tools and
paint. The graph below shows that over a 4 year period, Orinoco has collected
roughly 100 tons of paint and almost 61 tons of tools since 2003!
Results so far
The impacts of Orinoco's work so far are difficult to assess. Going by simple
collection data, Orinoco's work is contributing to a reduction in almost 200
tons of landfill (making some big assumptions about paint and tool production).
More realistically, the environmental impacts of Orinoco's work are to
reduce by some tons local landfill -- particular substituting out nasty
materials such as the long-living chemicals in many types of paint and the metal
content in the tools. Wider ecosystem impacts -- while probably not large -- are
almost certain in Oxfordshire's highly congested environment. Even if 1% of
these materials were "improperly disposed", that would be 1 ton of paint and
metal pollutants in Oxfords rivers and fields. The impacts on environmental
awareness though is probably high. Orinoco has had roughly 12,000 members over
its lifetime (going by current records) and perhaps twice as many customers,
suppliers, and even indirect competitors! If Orinoco's operations have
encouraged these people and organisations to reduce their waste by even 1%, the
social savings would be considerable!
The economic impacts of Orinoco's work are the most easily assessed.
Oxford's consumers have gained largely from Orinoco's services. Orinoco provides
paint and tools at about 10% of the retail price, thereby generating what
economists call "consumer surplus" (the happiness they get without having to pay
for). Consumers also substitute out of other types of paint into those Orinoco
stocks, increasing the money they have for other things.
The social impacts -- which are the most difficult to quantify and the
most important -- have probably been extensive. Orinoco, by tradition and by the
nature of its business -- continues to reach out to minority groups in Oxford.
Oxford volunteers have come from over 9 ethnic backgrounds and every income
level of Oxford. Women have played a dominant role in Orinoco's management.
Orinoco has provided incomes to a number of groups and valuable work experience
which provides future opportunities to Orinoco's collaborators. We deliver
scrap, thus providing services to those who do are not attractive for
profit-making businesses.
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