By Kristy McDonald
LOCAL residents have taken up the call to detox their homes with Brimbank City Council’s environmentally friendly toxic product disposal dump.
It is the first service of its kind in Melbourne’s western suburbs and was opened last year by the Brimbank council in partnership with Sustainability Victoria to offer the community a convenient and safe way to dispose of old and unwanted hazardous waste in an environmentally responsible way.
Brimbank mayor Sam David said that since the facility was opened last July residents had used it to dispose of significant amounts of hazardous household chemicals.
“I’d like to encourage more residents to use the ‘Detox Your Home’ facility, and also spread the word to friends and neighbours,” Cr David said.
Since July last year, the facility has collected 13,965kg of paint, 12,900 litres of motor oil, 234 car batteries, 60kg of household batteries and 136kg of fluorescent tubes.
Material collected is taken to processing facilities or disposed of safely.
Paint is recovered and used as fuel, oil is recycled into low-grade diesel, mercury from fluorescent tubes is recovered for reuse, while the glass is recycled.
All metals from batteries and paint cans are recycled into new steel products. Lead, sulphuric acid, cadmium and zinc found in batteries are recovered for reuse.
“The permanent detox facility is a wonderful example of how local government can partner with environmental organisations to offer the community ways in which they can protect and enhance long-term sustainability,” Cr David said.
The “Detox Your Home” dump is on Stadium Drive, Keilor Park (just beyond Brimbank Council’s Operations Centre), and is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, and on the first Saturday of each month from 10am to 4pm.
The service is free and residents from all municipalities may use it.
