Everything you need to know about recycling chemical drums
Chemical Drums includes:
Industrial waste
Metal drums
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Learn more about chemical drum recycling
How to recycle chemical drums
Empty chemical drums must be handled by specialist waste management companies. Commercial operators may accept chemical drums for recycling or reconditioning for resale. This may be through a pick-up or drop-off service. You can use the search bar on this page to find chemical drum recyclers near you.
Some states accept empty chemical drums at household hazardous waste drop-off events – contact your local council for more information.
drumMUSTER provides Australian agricultural and veterinary chemical users with a recycling pathway for eligible empty chemical containers. There are over 825 drumMUSTER collection sites across Australia.?This is a free drop-off service and containers must carry the drumMUSTER logo to be eligible. The program will not accept petroleum or liquid chlorine containers that are used for non-agricultural purposes, or intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) for reconditioning.
Why recycle?
Chemical drums are made from recyclable materials, primarily plastics and steel. Recycling or reconditioning chemical drums keeps these items out of landfill and preserves the natural resources used to make them like steel. Keeping these materials in use reduces demand for mining new materials and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Chemical drums may also contain remnants of hazardous waste which must be disposed of responsible, so it doesn’t enter the environment and threaten the health and safety of wildlife.
What happens to them?
Reconditioning
Intermediate bulk containers that are collected for reconditioning are cleaned and repaired where needed, such as the replacement of closures and lids. These drums are then resold.
Recycling
Drums must be triple-rinsed and punctured before they can be accepted for crushing. Once crushed the metal drums are transported to a recycling facility. Reusable plastic drums will be returned to the relevant chemical company. Non-reusable drums will be shredded and recycled for uses such as plastic culvert pipes.
Recycling other hazardous waste
The following items should never be put in household recycling or garbage bins.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a building material that becomes hazardous and toxic when it is disturbed or moved. It must be disposed of safely and responsibly to reduce risk to human health.
Batteries
Batteries contain both hazardous and valuable materials. They can be recycled through Australia’s national product stewardship scheme for batteries, B-cycle.
Chemicals
Household chemicals are hazardous and must be disposed of responsibly. Most councils will offer their residents drop-off locations for chemicals or chemical clean-out days. Some commercial waste management businesses will accept chemicals for safe disposal.
Computers and televisions
Computers and televisions contain both hazardous and valuable materials. They can be recycled for free through the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.
Mobile phones
Mobiles contain both hazardous and valuable materials. They can be recycled for free through Australia’s product stewardship scheme for mobile phones, MobileMuster.
Paint
Various types of paint products can be dropped off at Paintback sites for free. They accept paint, deck cleaners, primers, sealers, shellacs, stains, undercoats, varnishes and more.
Vapes
Vapes and e-cigarettes contain batteries and liquids that can be hazardous. They should not be put in recycling or garbage bins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to dispose of empty chemical drums
Empty chemical drums must be handled by specialist waste management companies. You can use the search bar on this page to find chemical drum recyclers near you.
Some states accept empty chemical drums at household hazardous waste drop-off events – contact your local council for more information.
drumMUSTER provides Australian agricultural and veterinary chemical users with a recycling pathway for eligible empty chemical containers. There are over 825 drumMUSTER collection sites across Australia.
