Items accepted at Detox Your Home events
Last updated: 8 March 2023

For safety reasons we cannot accept individual
containers of more than 20 litres or 20 kg. Please bring items in original
packaging or a disposable container that will not be returned to you.
Cleaning
- Acids and alkalis, including spirit of salt, bleach, vinegar and rust remover, hydrochloric acid
- Aerosol cans, (empty cans can be put in your recycling bin)
- Cleaners (ammonia based), drain, shower and glass cleaners
- Detergents
- Disinfectants
- Floor-care products and waxes
- Oven cleaner
Cosmetics
- Hand sanitiser
- Make up
- Nail polish and remover
Fire and safety
- Fire extinguishers
Garden and pool
- Fertiliser
- Fuel (old lawn mower/power tools fuel)
- Herbicides
- Weed killers/Herbicides
- Insect spray and pesticides
- Pool chemicals, including liquid pool chlorine and pool salts
Garage
- Anti-freeze
- Brake fluid
- Car body filler
- Car care products and wax
- Coolant
- Fire extinguishers
- Fuels, including petrol, diesel and kerosene
- Glues, including water-based and solvents
- Machine oil and lubricant
- Rat poison
- Transmission fluid
- Turps, thinners and paint strippers
- Wood preservatives and finishes
Hobby materials
- Glues, including water-based and solvents
- Photographic chemicals
- Wood preservatives and finishes
Kitchen and camping
- Butane Gas canisters
- Hand sanitiser
- Used cooking oil
- See Cleaning products above
- Insect sprays.
Items found at home with these symbols

Items not accepted
- Ammunition, Marine Flares, Fireworks and explosives – Call 1800 136 089 for WorkSafe Victoria.
- Asbestos – Follow guidance from Asbestos in Victoria.
- Batteries – Take batteries to your local Aldi, Coles, Woolworths, Officeworks, Bunnings or Battery World.
- Car batteries – Visit Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABRI) website. Battery World and some council waste and recycling centres accept and recycle lead-acid batteries.
- Chemicals used by businesses for industrial and commercial purposes – Visit the Planet Ark Commercial Recycling website.
- Farm Chemicals – Visit the ChemClear website or free call 1800 008 182 for collection of unwanted rural chemicals
- Fluorescent lights – Take fluorescent lights to E Waste recycling at a council waste and recycling centre.
- Gas bottles – 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 – Visit Paintback to find your nearest drop-off site.
- Printer cartridges – Can be recycled through the Cartridges 4 Planet Ark program.
- Pharmaceuticals - Medicines may be disposed of safely at your local pharmacy or see the Returned Unused Medicines project.
If you have chemicals or toxic items and you are unsure if they are acceptable items for a Detox your Home event please email detox@sustainability.vic.gov.au and provide the name of the item and a clear description of the item and we will get back to you with a response.
Detox Your Home events are held at locations around Victoria throughout the year. Registration is required.