
Australia’s first industry-led collection and recycling program bagMUSTER®, starts rounding up agriculture's soft plastic bags
Australia’s first industry-led collection and recycling program for soft plastic agricultural input bags has officially launched today in Ballarat. Collection sites are now opening across Victoria as Phase 1 of a national roll-out. bagMUSTER® is a new initiative of CropLife Australia in partnership with the Australian Seed Federation.

Agsafe blog: Understanding Placarding best practices
Placarding at agricultural and veterinary (AgVet) retail premises plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe storage of AgVet chemicals. It provides clear visual warnings and essential information to workers, visitors, and emergency service personnel. Proper placarding not only enhances workplace safety but also ensures compliance with relevant regulations. This article explores the key considerations for placarding, including when placards are required, where they should be placed, and how they should be maintained to ensure clarity and effectiveness.

Changes to Work Safe Victoria regulations on paraquat storage
Work Safe Victoria has amended Table 1 of Schedule 14 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 to include Paraquat products, increasing the threshold quantities before a premises is classified as a Major Hazard Facility. Previously, Paraquat was listed under Schedule 14, Table 2, with a 20-tonne threshold. The updated classification raises the limits to 80 tonnes for concentrations of 10% or more and 200 tonnes for lower concentrations.

bagMUSTER is here – Revolutionising agricultural plastic recycling
The agricultural industry is making a significant stride toward sustainability with the opening of the first bagMUSTER collection sites. This pioneering, not-for-profit, industry-led program addresses plastic waste from single-use woven polypropylene (PP) bags. The program’s first phase is live in Western Victoria, with collection sites in Kyneton, Romsey, and Woodend. Farmers can drop off eligible bags, such as those used for fertilisers and stock feed.

bagMUSTER: Leading the way to a sustainable tomorrow
The agricultural sector is a vital part of Australia’s economy, but with its growth comes an increase in plastic waste, particularly from single-use agricultural bags. Addressing this issue is the driving force behind bagMUSTER, a program designed to remove plastic bag waste on farms, guiding the industry towards more sustainable practices.

Agsafe blog: The importance of spill management and using a spill kit effectively
In workplaces handling hazardous chemicals, accidents such as spills are an unfortunate reality. Despite safety measures, spills of various sizes can occur, from minor leaks to major chemical accidents. Knowing how to prevent, manage, and clean up these spills is crucial to ensuring the safety of personnel, protecting the environment, and maintaining compliance with regulations.

Agsafe announces ChemClear collection in Victoria: Register your chemicals by 31 January 2025
Agsafe is pleased to announce a ChemClear collection event in Victoria, providing agricultural producers and businesses the opportunity to safely and responsibly dispose of unwanted or obsolete agricultural chemicals. The deadline for chemical registrations is Friday, 31 January 2025.

APVMA cancels DCPA (Dacthal, Chlorthal-Dimethyl) registration – safe disposal through ChemClear now available
In a critical update for the agricultural industry, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has cancelled the registration of all products containing dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA, also known as Dacthal), effective immediately. All uses of DCPA are now banned, and it is now illegal to use the product. Retailers and farmers are urged to stop selling or using the chemical immediately and ensure its safe disposal.

Agsafe unveils evolution of drumMUSTER at Melbourne launch event
On Wednesday, 31 July 2024, Agsafe announced a major advancement for the drumMUSTER program at a highly anticipated launch event. This pioneering initiative, in partnership with Pact Group, represents an Australian first in the recycling of used chemical drums into new ones.

Agsafe blog: Maximise PPE effectiveness with proper storage, training, and maintenance
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) serves as the last line of defence against hazardous exposures in the workplace. When all other risk control measures have been exhausted, PPE becomes essential in safeguarding personnel. However, the effectiveness of PPE hinges not only on its availability but also on the proper knowledge of its storage and use.

Agsafe blog: Advancing sustainability in Australian agriculture with the drumMUSTER Drums-to-Drums evolution
In today's agricultural industry, sustainability is more important than ever. The new drumMUSTER Drums-to-Drums initiative marks a significant step forward in recycling practices, building on the success of the drumMUSTER® program that has been in place since 1999.
Announcing Drums-to-Drums: Evolution of drumMUSTER sets a new standard in plastic recycling
Nearly one million plastic agricultural chemical containers could now be recycled directly back into new agricultural chemical containers each year, under a new drumMUSTER® initiative unveiled in Victoria today.

Agsafe blog: Improving farm safety through chemical safety initiatives
This week serves as a reminder of the importance of being well-prepared and informed about the safe handling of chemicals on farms. Proper training in chemical safety is vital to ensure the well-being of farmers, their workers, and the environment.

Agsafe blog: Are your evacuation diagrams correctly displayed?
In any building, especially those that host hazardous materials, the correct display of evacuation diagrams is crucial. These diagrams are vital for ensuring that individuals can quickly and safely exit the premises in the event of an emergency such as a fire, chemical spill, or natural disaster.

ChemClear surpasses milestone: Removes over 1 million litres/kilograms of unused chemicals from Australian farms
ChemClear proudly announces a significant milestone, having successfully removed over 1 million litres/kilograms of unused chemicals from farms across the country. Established in 2003, ChemClear has been at the forefront of environmentally responsible chemical disposal, providing essential services to farmers and agricultural communities.
A new era for Agsafe with the appointment of Alicia Garden as the new General Manager
In an exciting development for the agriculture industry, Agsafe is proud to announce the appointment of Alicia Garden as its new General Manager. Alicia brings with her a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective that marks a significant shift in leadership for the long-standing organisation.