Detox recycles 3,000kg of toxic chemicals

Detox your Home 2024.jpg
November 2024

Another successful Detox your Home event in Torquay last month collected almost three tonnes of unwanted toxic chemicals, including a highly toxic Schedule X chemical that required special handling for safe disposal due to the risk it posed to site workers.

The Detox your Home chemist identified the Schedule X pesticide, which was used to fumigate rabbit warrens but is being phased out as an approved chemical in Australia. The chemical was safely wrapped and placed in an air-tight container ready for transport to the processing facility.

More common household and garden chemicals were among the 2,908kg of chemicals collected including:

  • 1,361kg of flammable liquids (petrol, diesel, kerosene, methylated spirits, citronella, and hand sanitiser etc.)
  • 545kg of weed killer, inspect sprays, rose dust, ant rid, mosquito coils, rat poison etc..
  • 181kg of aerosol cans of paint, inspect spray, and solvents;
  • 51kg of photographic chemicals
  • 68kg of mystery chemicals, such as liquids and powders stored in unmarked bottles and tins.

One of the more interesting items received this year were several jars of preserved laboratory specimens in formaldehyde.

All the chemicals were taken to a processing facility in Melbourne. A team of chemists sorted them into the appropriate recovery or disposal pathways. Acids are neutralised, flammable liquids are reused as a blended fuel, and chemically inactive liquids are treated. 

If you couldn’t make it to this Detox your Home event, visit sustainability.vic.gov.au/detoxyourhome to find the next free drop-off in Victoria.

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