The article presents important problems occurring in the operation of large-size steel structures protected by paint coatings. In our atmospheric conditions, corrosion of steel structures cannot be avoided, even with the use of protective coatings. The problem of environmental pollution with corrosion products and exfoliated paint then appears. When designing corrosion protection, durability of protection is assumed based on environmental corrosivity categories, but in practice degradation of paint coatings can occur much faster. The problem of premature peeling of paint results, among other things, from its faulty application and use. Steel structure repairs are usually carried out comprehensively, and new protection requires the removal of damaged coatings, mainly by sanding. As a result of the mechanical action of the abrasive material, old paints and corrosion products are removed, which results in a very large amount of waste that settles on the adjacent area. Due to the age of paint removed, this waste often contains compounds such as lead, chromium or zinc, which pose a real threat to the natural environment around the renovated buildings. In the article, based on the observations carried out directly on the exemplary structures in renovation, the actual scope of the waste emission was determined. This is a contribution to further spectrometric studies to determine the exact area of contamination and to identify heavy metals in the waste arising from the renovation of steel structures with paint coatings.