A regional Council in south east Queensland has nabbed the state’s 4 millionth Agvet chemical container through the national recycling program, drumMUSTER.
The coveted drum was picked up at Lockyer Valley Regional Council’s Anuha Recycling Shed in Gatton.
The Lockyer Valley runs six drumMUSTER sites in the Council region which are operated out of transfer stations and landfills.
The Council is responsible for collecting and recycling nearly 65 tonnes (or roughly 72,000 drums) of Agvet container waste from farmers and Agvet chemical users in the 13 years it has been running the recycling program.
Queensland drumMUSTER Consultant Colin Hoey said the drum represents more than 5000 tonnes of waste material avoiding landfill and being recycled.
“This new milestone goes to show Queensland’s huge commitment to the drumMUSTER program over the last decade,” he said.
“It’s no secret the sunshine state is committed to bettering the environment with one of the highest return rates of any other state or territory in the county. Lockyer Valley is no exception.”
Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Steve Jones said the local farming community was passionate about drumMUSTER.
“We have a large farming community in the Lockyer Valley and a lot of drums come through,” he said.
“I think drumMUSTER will continue to grow in the region.
“It’s also great to work with Colin. If we have any queries he’s happy to come on site and go through issues we have.”
Colin said the success of the program in the region was also due to the hard work from the inspectors who process hundreds of drums across the state on a daily basis.
“Nicky Simpkins and Bernadette Ivcorvaia are two of the local inspectors from Anuha Recycling Shed who picked up the 4 millionth drum,” he said.
“Staff at waste sites are trained by drumMUSTER to inspect and collect drums and store them in purpose built cages to await recycling.
“Without their hard work the program would simply fail.”
drumMUSTER asks all users to rinse their drums clean and let them dry before returning them to one of the hundreds of drumMUSTER locations across the state.
To find your nearest site, visit our website.
drumMUSTER has collected more than 22 million drums nation-wide since 1999. That represents more than 27,000 tonnes of waste avoiding landfill.
Once collected, the waste and is recycled into new and useful things again, like plastic cable covers, wheelie bins and pipes.
For further information on the drumMUSTER program, call 1800 008 707 or log on to www.drummuster.com.au.
Photos
1. (L-R) Nicky Simpkins and Bernadette Ivcorvaia Lockyer Valley drumMUSTER inspectors.
