Council workers, farmers and community volunteers were recognised as part of the celebration of the council’s milestone.

The program first started in Moree in February 2000, collecting drums that had been used by local aerial spraying operators.

By the end of 2000, the shire signed drumMUSTER’s collection agency agreement to bring the program to the rest of the local farming community.

The council runs eight sites across the region for farmers and other chemical users to dispose of their empty agvet chemical containers. Another three are run by private organisations.

The council’s local drumMUSTER coordinator, Trevor Annis-Brown, has been involved with the program since early 2004 and has relied on his diverse knowledge and contacts with the farming community to make sure the program 

runs smoothly.

AgStewardship Australia CEO, Stephen Richards, presented Mr Annis-Brown with an award for his 10 years of service at the Moree Show. 

“I like talking to the growers and they are doing a really good job,” Mr Annis-Brown said.

“Some are really passionate and deliver their drums every year. Some even deliver them every 

six months.”

An award of recognition was presented to the council’s waste management team for their hard work towards the milestone.

Water and waste manager, David Wolfenden, said he was proud of his team and local farmers for contributing to the effort.

“It’s a big achievement and we’re very pleased about it,” he said.

“We’re also happy that our local farmers have participated in the program. Our commitment will be to continue to work towards reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfill.”

Since 1999, drumMUSTER has collected more than 23 million drums nation-wide. That represents more than 28,000 tonnes of waste avoiding landfill. 

Once collected, the waste is recycled into new and useful things again like plastic cable covers, wheelie bins and pipes.