Items accepted at Detox Your Home events
Before attending a Detox Your Home event it is important to check which toxic household chemicals are accepted.
Accepted items
Home
- acids and alkalis (includes spirit of salt, bleach, vinegar and rust remover)
- aerosol cans (includes gas canisters / aerosols. Empty cans can be placed in your household recycling bin)
- cleaners – ammonia based (includes oven, drain, shower and glass cleaners)
- cooking oil
- detergents
- disinfectants
- fire extinguishers
- floor-care products and waxes
- glues – water-based and solvents
- nail polish and remover
- paint stripper, thinner and turps
- pharmaceuticals and cosmetics (medicines can be disposed of safely at your local pharmacy via the Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) project)
- photographic chemicals
- rat poison.
Garden and pool
- fertiliser
- herbicides and weed killers
- insect spray/pesticides
- lawn mower fuel
- pool chemicals (includes liquid pool chlorine and pool salts).
Garage
- anti-freeze
- brake fluid
- car body filler
- car wax
- coolant
- fuels – petrol, diesel, kerosene, other
- transmission fluid.
Products you find around your home labelled with the following symbols will also be accepted:
How much you can drop off at a Detox your home event
There is no limit on the volume of materials you drop-off, however the maximum acceptable weight or size of any single container is 20 kilograms or 20 litres.
Decanting is not permitted so bring chemicals in disposal containers.
Return Unwanted Medicines
You can drop medicines for free at your local pharmacy through the Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) project. Your pharmacist will put your medicines in a secure bin for collection and safe disposal.
Items not accepted
- Ammunition – Call 1800 136 089 for WorkSafe Victoria to pick up your ammunition.
- Asbestos – Call Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) on 1300 372 842 for advice
- Batteries – Take batteries to your local Aldi, Officeworks, Bunnings or Batteryworld store or drop them off at a permanent drop-off site. To find other battery recyclers, see the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI) website.
- Car batteries – Some council transfer stations accept and recycle lead-acid batteries used in cars. To find other recyclers, see 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 permanent drop-off site
- Gas cylinders – Some council transfer stations offer gas cylinder recycling. To find other recyclers, see the Planet Ark website.
- Medical Waste – Visit the EPA website for advice.
- 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.
Permanent drop-off sites
Permanent drop-off sites accept household paint, batteries and fluorescent lights for free. These sites are typically located at council transfer stations and depots and are accessible all year round. Contact your local council for other products you can drop off at permanent sites, disposal fees and opening hours.
