Agsafe

Three international agricultural chemical manufacturers have this week become more environmentally responsive by joining the Aussie drumMUSTER and Chemclear programs.

Two Australian-owned companies, SACOA Pty Ltd and PCT International, along with Hextar Chemicals Pty Ltd of Malaysia, were welcomed this week into the Industry Waste Reduction Scheme, recycling and disposal programs for ag and vet containers and unused chemicals.

“It’s great to see more manufacturers lining up for product stewardship,” said Allan McGann, National Program Coordinator for drumMUSTER.

“The concept is simple really. Participating manufacturers pay a levy of four cents per litre or kilogram on drums, either plastic or metal, and this becomes part of the price which is then passed on to users of the product.

“The containers are then eligible for drumMUSTER collection and recycling and together with ChemClear, which privides collection services for unwanted chemicals, provide crucial clean-up services for our rural environment.

“It is heartening to see companies like SACOA, PCT and Hextar keen to meet their environmental stewardship obligations. It helps farmers tremendously,” he said.

“It’s a reflection of the service we want to supply to the end user,” said Andrew Matthews Research and Development Manager at SACOA Pty Ltd.

“We joined the programs because of environmental concerns for sure. It’s a big issue,” he said.

SACOA is an Australian-owned company exporting internationally and are leaders in spray oil and adjuvant technology (to assist in disease prevention). They are committed to developing products for sustainable farming and market to all major broadacre and horticultural areas.

PCT International Pty Ltd are a Queensland company who now export a range of agricultural chemicals specialising in pest control.

”It made sense to join drumMUSTER and allow our customers to dispose of containers in a proper manner,” said PCT Manager David Pearson.

“It’s a responsible practice from the point of view of self-regulation in the industry,” he said.

Hextar Chemicals were also keen to get on board with the drumMUSTER scheme. “I learnt that to register our product under the program will help the end user recycle their empty drums,” said Regulatory Affairs Manager Eric Vo from Hextar’s Malaysia office.

“We need to be proactive and help out as much as we can. It also helps to reduce problems with landfill. We are very happy to be part of the program,” he said.

There are now 68 manufacturers participating in what has become a rapidly growing environmental initiative nation-wide. It has led to over 11 million drums being collected and recycled.