Mackay Regional Council’s drumMUSTER sites are now receiving empty and clean agvet chemical containers on an on-going basis thanks to some new arrangements.
Local growers no longer have to make appointments before dropping off their containers at Paget Waste Transfer Station and Sarina Transfer Station which now accept drums any day they are open during normal operating hours.
The two sites join Gargett, Seaforth, Bloomsbury and Kolijo in the on-going arrangement.
Queensland drumMUSTER Consultant Colin Hoey said part of the transition involved training staff at Incredables Recycling in Paget to become drumMUSTER inspectors.
He said following the training, all drumMUSTER sites in the Mackay region are open during working hours.
“I am very happy it is now in place,” he said. “The new operations also coincide with the annual end of season promotion for the sugar industry across Queensland.”
Colin said drumMUSTER helps farmers who are conscious of their quality assurance requirements.
“Delivering drums will check all the right boxes when it comes to work health and safety aspects of quality assurance programs like Smartcane BMP accreditation,” he said.
Mackay Regional Council’s Waste Services Coordinator Mark Goodman said the new arrangement has improved access for farmers and also the retrieval of empty containers for recycling.
“We completed the construction of a new transfer station in Sarina which also meant the construction of new drumMUSTER compound,” he said.
“Instead of being available once month it’s now open five days a week.”
Last year more than 7100 drums from 136 growers were collected in the Mackay Regional Council.
Remember to rinse all containers when returning them for collection. 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.
For more information contact Colin Hoey on 0428 964 576. For further information on the drumMUSTER program, call 1800 008 707.
Photos
1. Mackay inspector looking at empty drums.
2. Inspectors at Paget chip drums.
3. Inspectors offload containers at Paget.
