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This article was published on Monday, 15 April, 2024. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

‘Detox your Home’ event is back to clear Greater Shepparton’s households from toxic chemicals

In summary

Shepparton residents encouraged to dispose of household chemicals at free "Detox Your Home" event.
Event takes place Saturday, May 4th at the Shepparton Resource Recovery Centre (11am-2pm).
Safely dispose of chemicals like weedkiller, cleaning products, and used cooking oil.
Registration is required.

Cleaning out unwanted household chemicals from local sheds, cupboards and kitchen sinks is helping Greater Shepparton residents safely dispose of everyday household chemicals, making homes safer and protecting our environment.

Sustainability Victoria’s Detox your Home events are a free and convenient service for Greater Shepparton residents. Common products such as weedkiller, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, cosmetics, and cooking oil are all materials harmful to the environment and should not be placed in kerbside bins or poured down sinks.

Council’s Director Infrastructure Gary Randhawa said the event was an important reminder of how to appropriately dispose of household chemicals.

“Pouring household chemicals down the drain or placing them in the bin pollutes our waterways, harms animals and vegetation, contaminates our water supply and makes rivers unsafe,” he said.

“Detox your Home events are the perfect opportunity to dispose of ay unwanted chemicals which residents have around their homes. I encourage people to get involved and bring their items to the Shepparton Resource Recovery Centre.”

Each Detox your Home event collects around 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
Garden – herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, pool chemicals, poisons
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 staffed by expert chemists who identify and sort the chemicals for safe transport back to a licensed 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.

Detox your Home events are a drive-through service. Registrations are essential.