Dispose of toxic household items (Detox Your Home)
Highly toxic items, such as chemicals, should never be put in your rubbish bins or poured down the drain. You can drop off household chemicals at our free Detox Your Home events, held around Victoria.
Disposing of toxic items correctly will:
- reduce the risk to the environment and human health
- help keep our waterways clean
- prevent chemicals from ending up in landfill
- reuse precious resources.
Items accepted
Items that can be dropped off include:
- weed killers
- cleaning products
- cosmetics
- cooking oil
- fire extinguishers.
Check the full list of items that are accepted.
Detox Your Home events are for households. Businesses should use a commercial waste disposal company.
Paint drop-off
Paint is not accepted at Detox Your Home events. You can take unwanted household paint to a permanent drop-off site. To find your nearest location, visit the Paintback website.
Locations and registration
Detox Your Home events are held at locations around Victoria.
View upcoming events on a map.
The event dates and locations are released throughout the year.
To learn when event locations are announced, sign up to our newsletter or revisit this page.
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If circumstances change, we will email updated information to the people who have registered.
If the event you’ve registered for is rescheduled, you will automatically be booked for the new date at the same time. If you cannot attend it, please cancel your booking, so it can be available for another person. -
If you’re feeling unwell, please stay home.
When going to the event, follow the public health measures that are in place. For example, wear a face covering if required. For more information, visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria website.
Upcoming event locations
You’re welcome to register to attend events outside of your local area. There is no limit on the number of events you can attend.
Detox Your Home - Wangaratta
51-69 Newman Street, Wangaratta, VIC 3677
Detox Your Home - Sandringham
76 Royal Avenue, Sandringham, VIC 3191
Detox Your Home - Moonee Valley
188 Holmes Road, Aberfeldie, VIC 3040
Detox Your Home - Kyneton
87 Saleyards Road, Kyneton, VIC 3444
Detox Your Home - Mildura
15 Scherger Drive, Mildura, VIC 3500
Detox Your Home - Hoppers Crossing
241-253 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing, VIC 3029
Detox Your Home - St Arnaud
26 Dunstan Street, Saint Arnaud, VIC 3478
Detox Your Home - Parkdale
116 Warren Road, Parkdale, VIC 3195
Detox Your Home - Bendigo
Lot 2 Wallenjoe Road, Huntly, VIC 3551
Detox Your Home - Torquay
130 Messmate Road, Torquay, VIC 3228
Detox Your Home - Wonthaggi
180 Cameron Street, Wonthaggi, VIC 3995
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Before the event
Ensure you 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.
Decanting is not permitted on site, so bring chemicals in disposable containers that you can leave with us.
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
- 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 handle toxic chemicals.
At the event
There will be signs and directions for you to follow as you drive in.
You’ll need to check in. If you cannot use the QR code, our staff will help you check in using the paper form.
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.
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Toxic chemicals dropped off at a Detox Your Home event are immediately sorted by qualified chemists. They’re placed in sealed drums and transported to a specialist waste treatment facility.
Every effort is made to recycle chemicals or use them for other purposes. Some chemicals are used to create energy.
As a last resort, a small amount of chemicals will be stored in secure landfills in accordance with the Environmental Protection Authority Victoria’s requirements.
