Maroondah City Council in conjunction with Sustainability Victoria will collect potentially dangerous, unwanted and old household products for free on Saturday 24 March.

Councillor Alex Makin said too many avoidable poisonings happen around the family home, and the cause is often left over weedkiller or paintstripper stored either in the home or in the garden shed.

“This free chemical collection service is a great opportunity to clean out those unwanted household chemicals and poisonous materials that are lurking in the garage, garden shed, bathroom cabinet, kitchen cupboards or laundry. Simply bring them to Council’s Depot on Saturday 24 March,” said Cr Makin.

Items which can be collected include unwanted paints, old batteries and gas cylinders, as well as insecticides, photographic chemicals, brake fluids, pool chemicals, poisonous household and garden products.

The collected materials will be treated and then recycled or disposed of safely by the specialist team.

People can bring in as many items as they wish, however, 20-litre size containers are the maximum accepted.

Putting unused chemicals in the rubbish bin is illegal and dangerous as they go to landfill where they can cause significant environmental problems. Tipping them down stormwater drains causes pollution of our waterways and it’s illegal to put them down the sink or toilet.

“All you have to do on Saturday 24 March is safely and securely load your chemicals into the car, drive to Council’s Depot and wait in your car until the collectors come and take the chemicals from you,” said Cr Makin.

For everyone’s safety, please avoid smoking on site, switch off car engines while unloading and make sure children and pets stay in the car.

“Council’s Depot can only accept chemicals on this Household Chemical Collection Day, and cannot take chemicals on any other day. So, be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to safely dispose of those unwanted chemicals,” said Cr Makin.

Householders can deposit their unwanted household chemicals at Maroondah City Council Operations Depot , 24-28 Lincoln Road, Croydon on Saturday 24 March 2007 from 8am to 4pm.