How to dispose of hazardous household chemicals
Many hazardous household chemicals can be disposed of through Detox Your Home events. However, Detox your Home does not accept chemicals if there is an existing product stewardship scheme.
Product stewardship means the manufacturer shares the responsibility for collecting, recycling, repairing or disposing of their products at the end of their life. Learn more about national product stewardship schemes at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water's website.
If you can't get to a Detox Your Home event, or have toxic household items not collected, see the table below for other ways to dispose of them.
View advice on safe storage of hazardous household chemicals if you can't dispose of them immediately.
The general environmental duty applies to all Victorians. The duty requires you to reduce the risk of your activities harming the environment or human health.
| Item | What to do |
|---|---|
Aerosol containers (empty) |
Empty aerosol containers can be recycled in your household mixed recycling bin. |
Ammunition, marine flares, fireworks and explosives |
Call 1800 136 089 for WorkSafe Victoria. |
Asbestos |
Follow guidance from Asbestos in Victoria. |
Batteries |
B-cycle is Australia's nationwide, government-backed battery stewardship scheme. Visit B-cycle to find your nearest drop-off site. |
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. |
Cooking oil |
Some council transfer stations accept cooking oil for recycling. Small amounts of cooking oil can also be disposed of in your household food organics and garden organics (FOGO) green lid bin – check your council website for guidance. |
Cosmetics/make up |
Drop off at Priceline, David Jones, Mecca, Sephora stores. Search for a location near you at Terracycle and choose ‘Recycle at home’. |
Farm chemicals |
Visit the ChemClear website or free call 1800 008 182 for collection of unwanted rural chemicals. |
Fire extinguishers |
Yellow halon fire extinguishers Dispose of through the Australian Government’s free National Halon Bank. Visit www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/ozone/halon/halon-disposal or call 1800 658 084. NOTE: Yellow fire extinguishers contain halon which is an ozone-depleting chemical. Red fire extinguishers
Contact Fire Equipment Services or 1300 855 163. |
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. |
Medicine/pharmaceuticals |
Medicines may be disposed of safely at your local pharmacy or see the Returned Unused Medicines project. |
Motor oil |
Contact your local council for disposal points in your area, or visit the Planet Ark Recycling Near You website. |
Nail polish |
Open bottles and allow to harden before placing in waste bin. |
Paint |
Visit Paintback to find your nearest drop-off site. |
Printer cartridges |
Can be recycled through the Cartridges 4 Planet Ark program. |
