Dispose of hazardous household items (Detox Your Home)

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

We are running a reduced number of Detox your Home events this year, focusing on collecting highly toxic household chemicals.

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.

Waiting lists

Once an event is fully booked, wait lists capped at 50 places are available through Eventbrite. If the waiting list is full and not visible on Eventbrite, check back in the days before the event in case a place becomes available – even on the morning of the event. Late cancellations are common.

If you are on the waiting list, check your email as the day approaches. You will be notified of availability due to cancellations and these spots are quickly taken.

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 handle 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

What happens to chemicals after your drop them off