Detox Your Home collections

Throwing chemicals in your rubbish bin is dangerous. They may explode, catch fire, leak or mix with other chemicals, either in your bin or in the collection truck or sorting facility.

Pouring them down the drain may pollute the environment, harm animals and vegetation, contaminate our water supply and make rivers and beaches unsafe for swimming.

Instead, you can drop off many hazardous chemicals at our free Detox Your Home events, which are staffed by trained specialist chemists. If your unwanted chemical is not accepted at a Detox your Home event, learn about other safe ways to dispose of it.

Register for an event

Register below for 2025 events. We will release the 2026 schedule later this year.

You are welcome to attend any of the events listed below – they are not restricted to those who live in the municipality.

View the list of accepted items.

Sign up to our e-newsletter for program updates.

If you can’t make it to an event, make sure you store hazardous household materials safely.

Before the event

Pack only items accepted at Detox Your Home events.

The maximum acceptable weight or size of a single container is 20 kilograms or 20 litres.

You must clearly and accurately label your items:

• Use the original packaging if possible, if not, write the contents clearly using a permanent marker.
• Decanting is not permitted on site, so bring chemicals in disposable containers that you can leave behind.
• If you’re unsure of the contents, label them ‘unknown’.

Put your items in your empty car boot or vehicle tray.

Read our tips to safely manage hazardous household chemicals.

At the event

There will be signs and directions for you to follow as you drive in.

Stay in your car. You won’t need to unload anything yourself. Our trained staff and qualified chemists will unload everything for you.

Generally the wait time is less than 10 minutes.

Accepted items

Cleaning

• Acids and alkalis, including spirit of salt, bleach, rust remover, and hydrochloric acid
• Aerosol cans (empty cans can be put in your recycling bin)
• Oven cleaner

Cosmetics

• Nail polish remover

Garden and pool

• Fertiliser
• Fuel (old lawn mower/power tools fuel)
• Weed killers/herbicides
• Insect sprays and pesticides
• Pool chemicals, including liquid pool chlorine and pool salts

Garage

• Brake fluid
• Coolant
• Fuels, including petrol, diesel and kerosene
• Machine oil and lubricant
• Rat poison
• Transmission fluid
• Turpentine, thinners and paint strippers
• Wood preservatives and finishes

Hobby materials

• Photographic chemicals
• Wood preservatives and finishes

Kitchen and camping

• Butane gas canisters
• Hand sanitiser
• See cleaning products above
• Insect sprays

Items found at home with these symbols