If disposed of incorrectly, paint can pose a significant risk to the environment.

South Gippsland Shire Council's Transfer Stations are not permitted to accept liquid paint, however there are other options.

Paintback 

Paintback is an industry-run initiative to manage safe disposal of paint and paint packaging.

Currently, solvent-based paint is used as a fuel, replacing coal in high temperature kilns that produce cement. The water is separated from water-based paints, halving the volume of material going to landfill. Metal cans are turned into new metal products. Further research and development is underway for new uses for unwanted paint and packaging.

You can find the closest Paintback drop-off locations on their website: www.paintback.com.au/find-location

Paintback Website

Dry the Paint or Make it Set Hard

If the paint is dried out or set hard, we can accept it at any Transfer Station. Tins that have set hard need no further attention.

There are commercially available paint hardeners available through hardware and paint stores. Alternatively, you can lay out a thick layer of newspaper on a sunny day and pour the paint onto it to dry. Once dry, the set paint can go in your General Waste bin and the empty tin can go to the Transfer Station for free.

Household Chemical Disposal

Household chemicals cannot be placed in your kerbside bins, dropped off at Transfer Stations or poured down the drain.

Disposing of hazardous household chemicals in your kerbside bin is dangerous. They can explode, catch fire, leak or mix with other substances — posing serious risks to workers collecting your bin or working at sorting or disposal facilities.

Pouring chemicals down the drain could pollute waterways and make rivers and beaches unsafe for swimming, contaminate our water supply, or harm wildlife and vegetation.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action runs a program called Detox Your Home, which is a free service for Victorian residents to safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals. The 2026/27 events include two nearby options:

Saturday 6 February 2027 from 9.00am to 1.00pm at the Wonthaggi Transfer Station. Registrations open 24 November 2026. Click here to register.

Saturday 13 March 2027 from 9.00am to 12.00pm at the Baw Baw Shire Council Depot in Warragul. Registrations open 19 January 2027. Click here to register.

For more information about upcoming collection locations and what can and can't be disposed of through the service, please click the button below. You can attend any location, but you must register as spots are limited.

Detox Your Home

For other safe disposal options for hazardous household chemicals, including industry-run recycling programs, please click here.

As is the case with household chemicals, agricultural chemicals are also cannot be dropped off at Council's Transfer Stations.

ChemClear is a program aimed at safely disposing of these chemicals. For further information about collections and the service in general, please click the button below.

ChemClear

Empty and clean agricultural chemical drums can be taken to a drumMuster location such as our Transfer Stations.