A brand new drumMUSTER compound at Mullaley has proven to be a hit for local farmers after inspectors collected more than 1600 drums in less than two hours during their very first collection.
The site is run by local Mullaley Gymkhana Association to allow chemical users to recycle their empty agvet chemical drums throughout the year after a new arrangement was made with Gunnedah Council.
Volunteers from the group take care of the service at Mullaley Waste Management Facility, which is open by appointment.
Northern NSW drumMUSTER Consultant Phil Tucker said farmers near Mullaley no longer have to travel to Gunnedah or further to drop off their empty drums.
“Before the site was established here in Mullaley, growers would have to drive to Gunnedah or Coonabarabran. Now it’s virtually down the road,” he said.
“Gunnedah Council worked with drumMUSTER to service the region and give farmers more options to recycle their farm waste.”
Phil said the region has a long and successful history with drumMUSTER.
“Gunnedah hosted drumMUSTER’s very first collection in 1999, where they collected about 5000 drums.”
“Over 14 years the Gunnedah council region has collected 202,491 drums or just over 295 tonnes of waste.”
Phil said Mullaley Gymkhana Association group members are fully trained drumMUSTER inspectors. The group receives funding for each drum they inspect.
“The group can then use the money they get from collecting and inspecting drums to benefit the local community through projects,” he said.
President of the Mulley Gymkhana of Andrew Higgins said local farmers are already getting ready just through word-of-mouth.
“By word of mouth we are getting enough drums to fill our three hour slot at the tip,” he said.
“I would say we will stay with this system until we have cleared the backlog of drums and then we will move to a once every two – three month system.”
The Mullaley Waste Management Facility is located on Grain Valley Road, Mullaley.
Bookings are essential. To book, call Andrew on 6744 2311 or mobile 0427 762 603 to arrange a time to drop off your drums. drumMUSTERs are held Tuesdays 1pm to 4pm.
Remember to rinse all drums. Pierce metal drums to allow for better air-flow after rinsing. Plastic drums also need to have lids off before delivering.
Since 1999, drumMUSTER has collected more than 22 million drums nation-wide. That represents more than 27,000 tonnes of waste avoiding landfill and in turn being recycled into new and useful things again, like plastic cable covers, wheelie bins and pipes.
For more information, contact Phil Tucker on 0427 925 274.
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