Please note: this is an archived news article release

This article was published on Tuesday, 25 October, 2016. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate.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.

Greater residents urged to ‘Detox your Home’ from highly toxic household chemicals

Greater Shepparton residents are being urged to ‘Detox your Home’ – a safe, free and easy-to-use service to dispose of common, highly toxic household chemicals without harming your health or the environment.

The household chemical collection program is coming to the Shepparton Resource Recovery Precinct on Saturday12 November from 10am to 1pm and Greater Shepparton City Council in partnership with Sustainability Victoria, is encouraging residents to take the opportunity to get rid of unwanted – and potentially dangerous – items like pesticides, detergents and weed killers.

Council’s Director Infrastructure Steve Bowmaker said encouraged people to dispose of household chemicals in a safe manner.

“They can harm your family and your pets, add extra fuel to a house fire, release toxic fumes and pollute the environment for future generations, which is why residents should take advantage of the free Detox your Home service to safely dispose of unwanted items,” Mr Bowmaker said.

Mr Bowmaker warned residents against putting chemicals out with the regular rubbish collection where they could explode, ignite, leak or mix with other chemicals. He also cautioned against pouring them down the drain where they could pollute waterways, harming animals and vegetation, contaminating the drinking water supply and making rivers and beaches unsafe for swimming.

“The good news is you can reduce the risk of poisoning, environmental pollution and bushfire hazards, as well as improve recycling rates, by dropping off unwanted chemicals at our Detox your Home mobile collection,” Mr Bowmaker said.

“Do the right thing for your loved ones and your environment and Detox your Home. It’s easy and it’s free.”

The Detox your Home mobile collection will be held at the Shepparton Resource Recovery Precinct, 125 Wanganui Road, Shepparton

For more information:

Detox your Home is administered by Sustainability Victoria in partnership with local governments and is funded by the Victorian landfill levy. The products collected are recycled for recovery and diverted from landfill.

Residents can drop off the following items:

  • Acids & alkalis

  • Aerosols

  • Anti-freeze 

  • Brake fluid

  • Car body filler

  • Car wax

  • Cleaners - ammonia based

  • Cooking oil

  • Coolant

  • Detergents, disinfectants & drain cleaners

  • Fertiliser 

  • Fire extinguishers

  • Floor-care products & waxes

  • Fuels - petrol, diesel, kerosene, other

  • Glues - water-based & solvents

  • Herbicides & weed killers

  • Insect spray/pesticides 

  • Nail polish & remover 

  • Oven cleaner

  • Paint stripper, thinner & turps 

  • Pool chemicals 

  • Rat poison 

  • Solvents 

  • Transmission fluid 

  • Wood preservatives & finishes (oils & varnish)

 The following items are not accepted

  • Ammunition or firearms
  • Asbestos
  • Car batteries
  • Household batteries
  • Chemicals used by businesses
  • Farm chemicals
  • Fluorescent lights
  • Gas bottles
  • Motor oil
  • Paint

Less toxic items – paint, household batteries and compact fluorescent lamps – can be disposed of throughout the year at a permanent drop-off site. There is a permanent drop-off site at the Shepparton Resource Recovery Precinct.

For more information visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/detoxyourhome, call 1300 363 744.

 

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