MEDIA RELEASE
Tasmanian landholders have been lauded for their commitment to environmental safety following the collection of the 500,000th drumMUSTER agvet chemical container.
Agsafe’s drumMUSTER program is Australia’s longest running agricultural waste management scheme, which has diverted 30 million eligible, empty containers from landfill to recycling projects nationally.
It’s a significant achievement for Tasmanian agricultural and veterinary chemical users, whose support for drumMUSTER has grown since the first container collection at White Hills Transfer Station in April 2000, when 120 drums were delivered.
Today, there are 43 drumMUSTER collection sites across Tasmania where farmers have already delivered 500,000 plastic and metal agvet chemical drums, weighing 487 tonnes, to be redirected into recycled product manufacturing.
drumMUSTER Tasmanian consultant, Andrew Winkler, said the program had become part of the rural landscape and farmers were keen to support it, but there was more to do.
“Farmers want to do the right thing and the onus is now on councils to be the conduit between the drumMUSTER stewardship program and the farmers who want to use it,” Mr Winkler said.
By delivering eligible containers to drumMUSTER sites, farmers are accepting responsibility for the safety of their land, waterways and the community, diverting waste from landfill and choosing environmentally sound land care practices.
drumMUSTER national program manager, Frank Wimmler, said Tasmania was world renowned for its unique landscapes and food culture, and farmer support for the program demonstrated a strong commitment to the land.
“This is a significant achievement for Tasmanian landholders who have chosen the ethical and environmentally sound pathway for their waste chemical containers,” Mr Wimmler said.
drumMUSTER is one of three agvet product stewardship programs offered by non-profit body, Agsafe, which also delivers the national ChemClear program for disposing of unwanted farm chemicals.
For interviews contact:
Alison Carmichael, Agsafe General Manager. Phone 0414 287 079