Program drums up success
When Konnongorring farmer Nathan Davey delivered drumMUSTER's 25 millionth drum on March 20, 2015 to the Goomalling collection site, he had no idea what it signified for the thousands of people involved with the program over the past 16 years.
For students at Goomalling Primary School and Sacred Heart Catholic School, it meant Mr Davey's drums would contribute valuable funds towards school camps, equipment and other essential needs.
"I started using drumMUSTER because the property I bought was littered with drums from the previous owner," Mr Davey said. "I now seek out drumMUSTER eligible containers because I know the program aligns itself with high quality chemicals."
For Doug Sewell, Goomalling Shire Council president and long-time drumMUSTER supporter and inspector, the milestone container indicated a job well done.
"Not only did Nathan deliver the 25 millionth drum, but he was also the first person to deliver his agvet containers to the Goomalling collection site when it first opened in April 2002," Mr Sewell said.
"Over 80,000 empty containers have been collected by the council since then, with 80 per cent of chemical users in the Goomalling district participating in the program. When we first started, farmers would turn up with dirty containers in a jumble. Now they know to properly rinse and sort them before delivery. This makes my job so much easier."
drumMUSTER national program manager Allan McGann said the program has come a long way since its first collection in early 1999.
"The program has gone from strength to strength. We started with yearly collections of around one million containers, but are now edging towards two million containers per annum," he said.
"This goes to show the growing support drumMUSTER has garnered. We've established ourselves as a valuable program for farmers and growers. We're here to stay."
The 25 million containers represents more than 30,000 tonnes of materials which have avoided landfill. Once collected, the containers are shredded or granulated and transformed into new products like plastic cable covers, wheelie bins, road signs and bollards.
The new milestone comes less than two years after drumMUSTER received the 20 millionth drum in NSW, signifying the incredible growth the program has experienced.
On the back of 25 million drums, WA is also celebrating a milestone of its own with the four millionth drum delivered to the Harvey collection site by Mia and Graeme Rose on 24 March 2015.
"We like to keep our farm clean and tidy," said Ms Rose.
drumMUSTER operates 796 collection sites across Australia. To find your nearest site, simply enter your postcode and state under Collection locations on the drumMUSTER website. A map will appear with the closest site in your area marked.
For further information on the program, call 1800 008 707 or log onto www.drummuster.com.au .
