Growers who continue to do the right thing with their used AgVet chemical containers are helping Australia’s longest running product stewardship program march-past the 42 million mark of drums collected.

Since its first collection in 1999 at Gunnedah, Agsafe’s drumMUSTER initiative funded by manufacturers has conducted 76,000 collections and saved councils scores of millions of dollars in landfill costs. It equates to 50,400 tonnes of plastic waste that might also have been burnt or buried on properties.

For many tree crop growers there may now be an opportunity to clean up the containers before harvest. There are around 830 drumMUSTER collection sites around the country where they can bring their empty, clean and eligible containers (with the dM logo) for processing and recycling.

All growers need to do is check at drummuster.org.au/find-a-collection-site/for the location of their nearest collection site, most of which are managed by councils.

They are also encouraged to register their old, unused chemicals with ChemClear, another Agsafe product stewardship program that has been in operation since 2003. Once sufficient quantities are registered, a collection will be organised. Around 980 tonnes of unused chemicals have been collected since the program started.

Agsafe general manager Dominique Doyle says drumMUSTER was one of the first product stewardship programs established in Australia.

“As a voluntary program, drumMUSTER has adapted to fit the needs of councils, farmers, pest control operators, retailers and manufacturers of the chemicals.”

“We have a flexible approach to collections, this includes engaging with more than 100 community organisations to not only maximise collections, but also provide great fund-raising opportunities, currently $5 million and counting,” she says.

To register your chemicals call the ChemClear hotline on 1800 008 182 or visit www.chemclear.org.au and complete the online form.

Label the product for disposal and store it securely away until it is able to be collected for disposal.

When you have registered a product with ChemClear they will keep you informed about collections in your area.

Meanwhile, drumMUSTER regional consultants are working tirelessly across the country to build and maintain strong relationships with program stakeholders.

Agsafe’s national team in Canberra manage the day-to-day operations of the along with national training and certification around Australia for the safe transport, storage and handling of AgVet product.

The plastic containers are recycled into re-usable products such as wheelie bins, road signs, fence posts and bollards.

The drumMUSTER service thus benefits growers, the environment, industry and the wider community by providing a reliable, cost-effective and sustainable option for the recycling of these empty, eligible and triple-rinsed AgVet chemical containers.