Spring cleaning in Frenchs Forest can extend beyond clothes, cupboards and household clutter this September, with residents able to clear unwanted paints, cleaners, oils and other chemicals stored around the home.
A free Household Chemical CleanOut at Warringah Aquatic Centre will give residents a weekend option for disposing of potentially hazardous products that should not be placed in household bins.
The drive-through collection will run at the aquatic centre car park, 1 Aquatic Drive, on Saturday, 5 September and Sunday, 6 September from 9:00am to 3:30pm each day.
Looking Beyond Cupboards And Clutter
Household chemicals can be stored in many parts of a property, from kitchens, bathrooms and laundries to garages, carports and sheds.
Balconies, patios, decks, pool areas and gardens can also contain products suitable for the Frenchs Forest CleanOut, widening the spring clear-out beyond the more familiar task of sorting household belongings.
Residents can bring solvents and household cleaners, floor care products, ammonia-based cleaners, pesticides, herbicides, poisons, pool chemicals and hobby chemicals.
Motor oils, fuels and fluids can also be accepted, along with cooking oils, fluorescent globes and tubes, acids and alkalis, smoke detectors, gas bottles, fire extinguishers and car and household batteries.
Paint and paint-related products, including strippers and varnishes, are also included.
Vapes can be dropped off as part of the Embedded Batteries Trial, which ends in September 2026.
Limits Apply At Frenchs Forest CleanOut
Household quantities are generally limited to 20 litres or 20 kilograms for each waste type.
Trade painters can dispose of up to 100 litres of paint at the Frenchs Forest event, provided the paint is carried in containers holding no more than 20 litres each.
Business-related and commercial quantities of other chemicals are not accepted through the Household Chemical CleanOut service.
The collection is being run by the NSW Environment Protection Authority and Northern Beaches Council.
Getting Chemicals Ready For The Trip
Residents clearing chemicals from around the home are advised to keep products in their original containers wherever possible and make sure they are clearly labelled and well sealed.
Chemicals should never be mixed because dangerous reactions can occur. Where the contents of a container are not known, it can be labelled as an unknown chemical.
Liquids should be secured carefully before transport. Containers can be wrapped in newspaper, placed inside sturdy plastic bags and then carried in plastic buckets or trays to reduce the chance of leaks.
Chemicals should also be kept away from passengers, including by placing them in the boot of the vehicle.
Drive-Through Collection Over Two Days
Visitors to the CleanOut must remain inside their vehicles while contractors remove the unwanted items.
Traffic controllers will direct vehicles through the collection area, and some queues and minor delays may occur.
Containers collected by staff cannot be returned.
The Frenchs Forest CleanOut will operate from 9:00am to 3:30pm on both days at the Warringah Aquatic Centre car park.
Published 31-August-2026
