Detox Your Home

Household chemicals can be dangerous. They may harm your family and pets, add extra fuel to a house fire, release toxic fumes and pollute the environment.

Disposing of these items responsibly will:

• Reduce the risk of poisoning, keeping your family, friends and pets safe
• Keep toxic chemicals out of waterways
• Minimise environmental pollution and fire hazards

Qualified chemists sort the chemicals, placing them in sealed drums to be transported to a specialist waste treatment plant. The majority of chemicals collected at Detox Your Home events are recycled or used for suitable purposes, such as producing energy. Any chemicals that cannot be repurposed are safely disposed of after being treated.

The following items are accepted:

• Acids and alkalis (including spirit of salt, bleach, rust remover, and hydrochloric acid)
• Aerosol cans (empty cans can be put in your recycling bin)
• Brake fluid
• Butane gas canisters
• Coolant
• Fire extinguishers (non-halon only)
• Fertiliser
• Fuel (old lawn mower/power tools fuel, petrol, diesel and kerosene)
• Hand sanitiser
• Insect sprays and pesticides
• Machine oil and lubricant
• Nail polish remover
• Oven cleaner
• Photographic chemicals
• Pool chemicals (liquid pool chlorine and pool salts)
• Rat poison
• Transmission fluid
• Turpentine, thinners and paint strippers
• Weed killers/herbicides
• Wood preservatives and finishes

For a full list of chemicals accepted visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/accepteditems

Yes. The following items are not accepted:

• Ammunition or firearms
• Asbestos
• Batteries: car and household varieties
• Chemicals used by businesses
• Cooking oil
• Cosmetics
• Farm chemicals
• Halon fire extinguishers
• Fluorescent light bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps and tubes
• Gas bottles
• Motor oil
• Paint