Central West Lachlan Landcare are pleased to be hosting DrumMUSTER training on Monday, March 25.

Inspectors who receive approved drums through DrumMUSTER must have undertaken training through the program to ensure that the quality of drums received is to standard and to also ensure the safety of themselves, other inspectors and landholders when drums are received.

The drumMUSTER containers are collected and transported by an approved team of processors and delivered to materials recovery centres where they are recycled into items such as wheelie bins, fence posts and garden stakes.

Disposing of empty agvet chemical containers in the right way is crucial to the reputation and sustainability of the agricultural industry in Australia. By using the drumMUSTER recycling program you can turn your unwanted containers into useful, sustainable products rather than having them placed into landfill or building up on farm. drumMUSTER provides a full cradle to grave waste cycle for agvet chemical containers, enabling the re-use of the recycled plastic and steel.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to avoid this large-scale use of plastic at this stage, but with increasing improvements in farming practices, and for us unfortunately, the drought, obviously can reduce the need for chemical use significantly. Of course, not all of the drums received through drumMUSTER are classified as hazardous, with other drums containing wetting agents, dyes, liquid fertilisers and other dairy-related products being accepted

Since drumMUSTER’s inception over 33 million containers have been collected. During this current financial year, just under one million have been collected and in the previous year nearly two million were collected. Obviously a way to go to reach the previous years target.

Many landholders have changed to using Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) which can’t be recycled through the drumMUSTER program.

Funds raised from the drumMUSTER program go back to our community groups and volunteering your time to the program and collections is a way to improve recycling and ensure that these drums are not going into landfill.

Training will be held at the CWLL Office at Kelly Reserve between 11am and 3pm with Phil Tucker from drumMUSTER. Reservations are essential on 0418 611 053 or cwllpo@hotmail.com.

Morning tea and lunch is provided. Please note that our next meeting has been postponed to Wednesday, March 27 at the Forbes Services Club.