Items accepted at Detox Your Home events
Last updated: 5 December 2024
Check items we accept
Detox your Home events now collect only the most toxic materials. We no longer collect items that can be disposed of through other existing schemes (i.e. batteries, paint and cosmetics) and/or have a low level of toxicity. Items that will not be collected include fire extinguishers, cosmetics, aerosols and oils.
For safety reasons we cannot accept individual containers of more than 20 litres or 20 kilograms. 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, rust remover, and hydrochloric acid
- Aerosol cans (empty cans can be put in your recycling bin)
- Cleaners (ammonia based), drain, shower and glass cleaners
- Floor-care products and waxes
- Oven cleaner
Garden and pool
- Fuel (old lawn mower/power tools fuel)
- Weed killers/herbicides
- Insect sprays and pesticides
- Pool chemicals, including liquid pool chlorine and pool salts
Garage
- Anti-freeze
- Brake fluid
- Car body filler
- Coolant
- Fuels, including petrol, diesel and kerosene
- Machine oil and lubricant
- Rat poison
- Transmission fluid
- Turps, 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
Items not accepted
- 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 – Find a B-cycle Drop off point - B-cycle (bcycle.com.au) or take batteries to your local Aldi, Woolworths, 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
- Cosmetics – Place in landfill bin.
- 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
- Disinfectant – Pour disinfectant down the drain while running cold water.
- Glue – Allow glue to solidify by opening the container and leaving it in a dry place. Place solid glue in a landfill bin. Small quantities may be spread on paper or old cloth for quick drying then placed in landfill bin
- Farm chemicals – Visit the ChemClear website or free call 1800 008 182 for collection of unwanted rural chemicals
- Fire extinguishers – Some council transfer stations accept fire extinguishers for disposal. To find other options visit the National Halon Bank for yellow fire extinguishers, and Fire Equipment Services for red extinguishers. NOTE: Yellow fire extinguishers contain halon which is an ozone-depleting chemical
- 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
- Soap, detergent, fabric conditioner – Nontoxic, household-use liquid soaps and detergents are safe to pour down the drain, via your kitchen sink, hand basin, laundry basin. Do not put any waste into stormwater drains
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 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.
