Don't miss out: Book now for Torquay's Detox Your Home event

Published on 24 July 2026

Book early to secure your spot for this year's Detox Your Home Torquay event, with places expected to fill fast.

The Victorian Government’s Detox your Home event will be held on Saturday 22 August, from 9am to 1pm at the Torquay Works Depot, 130 Messmate Road, giving residents a safe and easy way to dispose of unwanted household chemicals.

Residents can drop off a wide range of household chemicals for free, including:

Cleaning: Acids and alkalis, including bleach, rust remover, and hydrochloric acid, oven cleaner.

Garden: Fertiliser, fuel (old lawn mower/power tools fuel), weed killers/herbicides, insect sprays and pesticides, pool chemicals.

Garage: Brake fluid, coolant, fuels including petrol, diesel and kerosene, machine oil and lubricant.

See a full list of accepted items.

Detox your Home no longer collects paint, cosmetics or oils, including cooking oil. Paint can now be taken free of charge to the new Paintback facility located at the Anglesea Transfer Station.

Common products such as weedkiller, pesticides, bleach, brake fluid and rat poison are all harmful to the environment and should not be placed in kerbside bins or poured down sinks.

Surf Coast Shire Cr Joel Grist said the annual event was a great opportunity to clear out old chemicals while helping protect the environment.

"Many of us have unwanted or expired chemicals tucked away in the shed, garage or under the sink," Cr Grist said.

"Detox Your Home makes it easy to get rid of these items safely, keeping them out of landfill and protecting our waterways and environment."

“The Torquay event has collected more than 14.5 tonnes of hazardous household chemicals over the past five years, including 2,315kg at last year's event alone.”

“This is always a popular event and it regularly books out, so get in early,” he said. 

The Detox Your Home event is for household quantities only - business waste is not accepted. Bookings are essential and walk-ins are not accepted on the day.

If your plans change and you can't make it, please cancel your booking so someone on the waiting list can take your place.