drumMUSTER, the national program that collects and recycles agvet chemical containers, has reached 20 million drums.
The significant milestone means more than 25,000 tonnes of waste has avoided landfill and has been turned into useful things like plastic garden stakes, cable covers and new wheelie bins.
The efforts of thousands of people working in councils, community groups and charities have made drumMUSTER one of the most successful farm recycling programs in Australia’s agricultural history.
"Cessnock Council has been involved in the program since its inception as a means of providing a better disposal path for chemical drums used by our local farmers," Council's Environment and Waste Manager, Michael Alexander said. "Our local focus is in April after the grape harvest has settled but drums can be taken by appointment throughout the year to the Cessnock Waste and Reuse Centre.
"The great thing about drumMUSTER is that it has changed the habits of people who use agvet chemicals and also changed the way of disposal of agvet chemical container waste. Instead of being burned or buried they are recycled into something new."
20 million drums: The Facts
More than 25,000 tonnes have been diverted from landfill thanks to the efforts of all who support drumMUSTER.
That’s 465,000 cubic metres of uncompacted waste, enough to fill more than 120 Olympic swimming pools.
That’s 276 road trains packed to the brim. That’s almost 10km of road train.
If the waste was cotton it would represent more than 110,000 bales.
Laid end-to-end, it’s enough containers to go from Brisbane down to Sydney, past Melbourne, across to Adelaide, swinging past Perth, up to Broome and stopping in Kununurra. That’s more than 8,200km.
Recycling one 20 litre plastic drum would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 18 hours.
