Detox Your Home

Household chemicals can be dangerous. They can harm your family and pets, add extra fuel to a house fire, release toxic fumes and pollute the environment now and into the future. Disposing of these items responsibly will:

• reduce the risk of poisoning, keeping your family and pets safe
• keep toxic chemicals out of waterways, and
• minimise environmental pollution and fire hazards.

Items labelled Corrosive 8, Oxidizing agent 5.1, Toxic 6.1, Flammable liquid 3 and Flammable solid 4.1.

This includes:

Cleaning

• Acids and alkalis, including spirit of salt, bleach, vinegar and rust remover, hydrochloric acid
• Aerosol cans, including gas canisters and aerosols (empty cans can be put in your recycling bin)
• Cleaners (ammonia based), including oven, drain, shower and glass cleaners
• Detergents
• Disinfectants
• Fire extinguishers
• Floor-care products and waxes

Cosmetics

• Make up
• Nail polish and remover
  
  

Hobby materials

• Photographic chemicals
• Glues, including water-based and solvents
  
  

Pharmaceuticals

• Pharmaceuticals (medicines can be disposed of safely at your local pharmacy through the Returned Unused Medicines project)
  
  

Garden and pool

• Fertiliser
• Fuel
• Herbicides
• Insect spray and pesticides
• Pool chemicals, including liquid pool chlorine and pool salts
• Weed killers
  
  

Garage

• Anti-freeze
• Brake fluid
• Car body filler
• Car wax
• Coolant
• Fuels, including petrol, diesel and kerosene
• Rat poison
• Transmission fluid
• Turps, thinners and paint strippers

• Ammunition – Call 1800 136 089 for WorkSafe Victoria to pick up your ammunition.
• Asbestos – Follow guidance from Asbestos in Victoria.
• Batteries – Take batteries to your local Aldi, Officeworks, Bunnings or Batteryworld store, or drop them off at a council waste and recycling centre. To find other battery recyclers, see the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI) website.
• Car batteries – Some council waste and recycling centres accept and recycle lead-acid batteries used in cars. To find other recyclers, visit the Planet Ark website.
• Chemicals used by businesses for industrial and commercial purposes – You can check the Yellow Pages under 'waste reduction and disposal services' for chemical disposal companies or visit the Planet Ark Business Recycling website.
• Chemicals used on the Farm – Visit the ChemClear website or freecall 1800 008 182 for collection of unwanted rural chemicals
• Fluorescent lights – Take fluorescent lights to a council waste and recycling centre.
• Gas cylinders – Some council transfer stations offer gas cylinder recycling. To find other recyclers, see the Planet Ark website.
• Medical waste – For advice, visit the EPA website.
• Motor oil – Contact your local council for disposal points in your area, or visit the Planet Ark Recycling Near You website.
• Paint – Take paint to a permanent drop-off site or visit Paintback to find your nearest drop-off site.
• Printer cartridges – Can be recycled through the Cartridges 4 Planet Ark program.