Chemical drums recycling program

Recycling on the farm

The drumMUSTER program continues to provide an effective recycling service for Australian ag and vet chemical users. The 15 millionth drum was delivered in Central Victoria to the Nagambie Transfer Station by Tahbilk Winery & Vineyard.

The national program, which has been operating for 10 years, accepts farm chemical drums for recycling. These drums are unable to be placed into other plastic or metal recycling programs, due to the risk of chemical contamination.

Tahbilk Group Vineyard Manager Ian Hendy said, “We were interested to hear that the delivery we made included the 15 millionth drum collected through the drumMUSTER program.”

The Purbick Family has owned and operated the Tahbilk vineyard and winery for five generations. The family operates four properties covering 1620 hectares in the Nagambie Lakes Region of Victoria. The original property was established in 1860 and continues to produce grapes from some of the first vines that were planted. “With around 440 hectares under vines and a cropping program, the need to have an effective disposal method for our cleaned used chemical containers is important,” said Ian.

“Using the drumMUSTER program fits well with our environmental management system. All our spray operators have completed their ChemCert training and understand the requirements necessary to meet the drumMUSTER cleanliness standard,” says Shaun Fowler - Vineyard Manager for New Tahbilk.

The Strathbogie Shire Council operates three drumMUSTER collection sites which are available to local chemical users for recycling their containers.

The Team Leader of the Strathbogie Transfer Station, Harry Daley, said, “Over the years we have seen participation in the drumMUSTER program increase. We are happy to be involved with drumMUSTER to ensure the safe collection and recycling of chemical containers.”

drumMUSTER National Program Manager Allan McGann said support for the program has been steadily growing. “Thanks to the efforts from councils and other collection agencies, the program has gone from strength to strength. We now have 740 drumMUSTER sites available throughout Australia to take delivery of drums, which has resulted in an increase in the number of drums received for recycling,” he said.

drumMUSTER is an industry-run initiative managed by Agsafe and funded by a levy on the sale of agriculture and veterinary chemical drums.