Queensland agvet chemical holders have proven their environmental credentials by utilising the ChemClear program in the QLD state collection to dispose of their unwanted or obsolete agvet chemicals.
For many farmers and rural property owners, the problem of disposing containers with unknown chemical residue often presents as an unwelcome surprise when they buy or sell a property.
Managing the dangers of hazardous substances seeping into soil and waterways is one many landowners face when they find unlabeled, unknown chemicals hidden in sheds or paddocks.
Photo: Kathleen Taylor
Agsafe is an Australian non-profit organisation offering programs to support agvet chemical product stewardship: Accreditation and Training, drumMUSTER (container recycling) and ChemClear (chemical disposal).
ChemClear fosters the safe removal of approved, registered Group 1 chemicals and unknown, unlabeled Group 2 products by way of environmentally-sound disposal solutions.
Chemists take delivery of the chemicals on-site, then sort and safely pack the containers in metal bunded bins for transport to chemical processing plants in Melbourne.
The chemists test and decant similar chemicals into vats for processing, then transport them to plants where complex chemicals are broken down into simple, safer components. Agvet chemicals have a calorific value and when mixed with other flammable wastes, they can be used as an alternate fuel source for cement kilns.
The next state collection is scheduled for Victoria in early 2020. Chemicals need to be registered online by 30 November at www.chemclear.com.au/register-your-chemical