RESIDENTS in the Golden Plains Shire are being invited dispose of household chemicals at a Detox Your Home event in Colac.<\/p>\n
The free event, run by Sustainability Victoria, is an opportunity to get rid of toxic chemicals which should not be put in rubbish bins or poured down the drain.<\/p>\n
The event is licensed to receive toxic chemicals and trained specialist chemists will be on site to help with handling.<\/p>\n
David Speller, who works in community programs at Sustainability Victoria, said the event is an opportunity for the community to have a clear out.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are able to drop off household chemicals which they cannot safely dispose of any other way because once they end up in landfill they can cause issues,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really any chemicals sitting around the home like cleaning chemicals, batteries, petrol. It takes away that risk of people not knowing what to do with things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Speller if those substances end up in rubbish bins or dumped illegally, they can cause havoc in the environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThings like pesticides, if they go into the bin they go into landfill, and they\u2019re exposed to rain and can wash out into waterways,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce they\u2019re in nature they won\u2019t just kill mice they\u2019ll kill other things.\u201d<\/p>\n
In bushfire prone areas chemicals can also prove a fire hazard.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf petrol or turpentine goes into the bin it ends up in the truck where it can be crushed goes into waste as a flammable liquid that increases the risk of fire,\u201d said Mr Speller.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d suggest to people to have a look around their cupboards and their sheds because often when was ask people how long they\u2019ve had something for they say, \u2018oh we\u2019ve had this for 40 years\u2019 so it\u2019s a good time to have a look around.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event will be held at the Colac Regional Saleyards on Saturday 15 July from 2pm until 4pm.<\/p>\n
Attendees can register interest at the Sustainability Victoria website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RESIDENTS in the Golden Plains Shire are being invited dispose of household chemicals at a Detox Your Home event in Colac. The free event, run by Sustainability Victoria, is an opportunity to get rid of toxic chemicals which should not be put in rubbish bins or poured down the drain. The event is licensed to […]<\/p>\n