Detox your home

A regional waste recovery group is encouraging Wimmera people to ‘detox’ homes of toxic household chemicals.

Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group is promoting the concept with people living in Horsham, Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh, West Wimmera and Northern Grampians municipalities.

The group is urging residents to use a ‘safe, free and easy-touse’ service to dispose of common, toxic household chemicals without harming health or the environment.

Household chemical collection program Detox Your Home will be at Horsham Transfer Station at Kenny Road from 9am to 11am on February 16.

With Horsham Rural City Council and Sustainability Victoria, Grampians Central West is encouraging people to take the opportunity to get rid of unwanted and potentially dangerous items such as pesticides, detergents and weed killers.

Group executive officer La Vergne Lehmann said household chemicals could be dangerous.

“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,” she said.

Mrs Lehmann warned people against putting chemicals out with the regular rubbish collection where they could explode, ignite, leak or mix with other chemicals.

She also cautioned against pouring them down the drain where they could pollute waterways, harm animals and vegetation, contaminate drinking-water supply and make rivers and lakes 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 Horsham’s Detox Your Home event,” she said.

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

People seeking more information can go to website www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/ detoxyourhome.