Melton residents have been busy detoxing their homes of 1.32 tonnes of dangerous chemicals for safe disposal at transfer stations in the past month.
Sustainability Victoria’s free Detox Your Home service was established to make it easy for residents to get rid of household, shed and garage chemicals. This year, 30.6 tonnes of chemicals were collected from nine sites run by councils across Victoria.
Sustainability Victoria chief executive Stan Krpan said the results had been pleasing.
“People were sitting on an incredible amount of chemicals,” he said.
“Disposing of them through the program means they’d be disposed of, or recycled, in the most appropriate way.
“There are restrictions on the types and volumes of materials that can be taken to Detox Your Home events.
“If you don’t know what to do with old chemicals, batteries, fluorescent tubes, paint and other dangerous goods, contact your local council or Sustainability Victoria.”
He said residents didn’t have to live in a municipality in which a Detox Your Home Collection was being held, but bookings were essential for some sites.
Kororoit MP Marlene Kairouz said regular clear-outs helped minimise potentially dangerous chemicals kept in homes.
“It’s vital to dispose of them properly,” she said of the program last year.
“Tipping these poisons down the sink or into drains can be dangerous to human health if it gets into our water system … the environmental impacts can be devastating.
“Protect the health of your family and the environment by taking advantage of this great service.”
