Get rid of household chemicals safely

Get rid of household chemicals safely

Published on 19 June 2023

Sustainability Victoria is holding a Detox your home event at Naroghid to help Corangamite Shire residents safely dispose of everyday household chemicals.

Waste and Sustainability Officer Jess Maxwell  encouraged residents to safely start digging out forgotten chemicals that might be lurking in their shed, or the cupboard under the sink.

“Safe disposal of common chemicals makes our homes safer and protects our environment,” Ms Maxwell said.

“Detox your Home event is a free, safe and easy way to dispose of unwanted household chemicals without harming your health or the environment.

“Common products such as weedkiller, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, cosmetics, and cooking oil are all materials harmful to the environment and should not go in kerbside bins or down sinks and stormwater drains.

“Detox your Home events are staffed by expert chemists who identify and sort the chemicals for safe transport back to a licenced facility in Melbourne where they are processed for reuse or safe disposal.

“Chemicals collected are processed and recovered or recycled wherever possible. If they cannot be reused in any way, they are safely disposed of.”

The event is for household products only, not commercial or agricultural chemicals.

“For safety reasons we cannot accept containers of more than 20 L or 20 kg,” Ms Maxwell said.

“Also, bring them in their original packaging or a clearly labelled disposable container.”

Sustainability Victoria has been running Detox your Home events in conjunction with local Councils for more than 27 years.

They are a free and convenient service for Corangamite residents to safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals.

Each Detox your Home event collects about four tonnes of hazardous chemicals, keeping them out of landfill and waterways and making homes safer.

Common chemicals collected at Detox your Home events include:

Fuels and flammable liquids – turpentine, methylated spirits, petrol, kerosene, diesel, paint thinners, varnishes, glues Garden – herbicides, insect spray, pesticides, fertilizers, pool chemicals, poisons including rat poison Household – cleaners, bleach, ammonia, oven cleaner, solvents, cooking oil, cosmetics, fire extinguishers Car – wax, transmission fluid, body filler, brake fluid.

Detox your Home events are drive-through and contactless, supported by a COVIDSafe plan. Registrations are essential here.

When: Saturday 15 July, 9—11 am

Where: Corangamite Regional Landfill, 605 County Boundary West Road, Naroghid

For a full list of chemicals accepted, click here.