Hospitality
2 min read
By Pedro Carreira
Updated 25 June 2026
Paint and sip studios generate: paint waste (water-based acrylics — can be dried and disposed in general waste for small quantities), canvas waste from damaged paintings, food and beverage waste from bar service, and general waste.
Do not pour paint water down drains — let it settle, decant water, and dry residue for general waste. Monthly cost: $80–200.
Glass from bar service should be separated for recycling.
Key Numbers
- Typical monthly waste cost: $80-200
- Paint type: Water-based acrylics
- Bar glass route: Separated for recycling
- CDS Vic refund: 10c per eligible container
What You Need to Know
A paint and sip studio sits between two trades — light art studio and bar service — and the two need very different handling. The cardinal rule is wastewater: never pour paint water down the drain. Let it settle, decant the clear water, and dry the residue for general waste.
- Paint waste — water-based acrylics; small quantities can be dried and binned as general waste.
- Canvas waste — damaged paintings, general waste.
- Bar glass — separated for recycling, not crushed into the general bin.
- Drink containers — eligible bottles and cans return 10c per eligible container under the deposit scheme.
Even with water-based paints, the Environment Protection (Management of Prescribed Waste) Regulations 2021 govern how any liquid or chemical residue must be stored and disposed, so a settle-and-dry routine keeps you clear of sewer-discharge breaches. On an $80-200 monthly bill the saving comes from right-sizing bins. Bundle Waste is an independent broker that audits your invoices free, compares a network of providers, and is paid only from the savings we find.
Related Resources
Related Questions
How should automotive dealerships manage their waste?+
Dealerships generate: scrap metal, used oil, oil filters, tyres ($5–10 each to dispose), batteries (free — lead value), packaging, and general waste. Used oil must be collected by licensed recyclers. A medium dealership spends $500–1,500/month. Metal rebates earn $50–200/month.
How should pubs and bars manage waste?+
Glass dominates (30–50% by weight) — a busy pub produces 200–500kg glass/week. Dedicated glass bins often collected free due to CDS Vic refund. Draught kegs returned to distributors. Monthly cost: $400–1,200 for a mid-size pub.
What waste do printing companies produce?+
Print businesses generate: paper offcuts (30–40%), ink waste (5–10%, often hazardous), solvents (hazardous), plastic substrates (10–20%), metal offcuts (5–10%). Ink and solvents are PIW requiring EPA tracking. Monthly cost: $300–1,000.
What waste do mechanic and auto repair shops generate?+
Auto shops generate: used oil (free collection 200L+), oil filters, scrap metal ($50–200/month rebate), tyres ($5–10 each), batteries (free — lead value), chemical waste (PIW). Used oil needs bunded storage with 110% containment. Monthly cost: $200–600.
What waste management do swimming pools need?+
Aquatic centres generate: chemical waste (chlorine, acid — hazardous), pool backwash (trade waste), general waste, food waste from kiosks. Chemical storage per AS 3780. Trade waste agreements mandatory. Monthly cost: $500–1,500.
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Updated 25 June 2026
