WorkCover’s submission to National Waste Management Policy Taskforce
Consultation Paper
Question
WorkCover NSW
7. Australia needs to
safely manage
hazardous waste and
waste containing
hazardous materials
over the long term.
Problems:
Lack of policy and programs for proper disposal of metal
drums and containers that have had previously contained
flammable or combustible hazardous materials. People have
the tendency of cutting or modifying disused drums for
various purposes.
Serious Injuries have been recorded as a result from
performing hot work (cutting with power tools, welding etc) on
metal drums/tanks/vessels that previously contained
flammable or combustible materials.
Moreover, lack of disposal options for waste drums, gas
bottles and other small quantities of hazardous wastes
leading to extended, unsafe storage in unsuitable locations or
disposal in general waste, thus polluting the environment.
Background:
Since 2001, there have been 27 serious injuries in NSW
caused by hot work on old drums. (principally the 200l drum)
Sparks from the hot work can ignite vapours and dusts in the
drums from residual flammable or combustible materials.
Some seemingly safe materials can also give off flammable
or toxic gases when heated. The drums are a waste product
from some manufacturing and industrial activities but are also
Are there any changes to
common farming and small business. It is important that
current arrangements
people do not try to cut old drums.
that would improve
Australia’s capability to There is a need for simplified and unified disposal options for
waste drums, gas bottles and small quantities of hazardous
safely manage
wastes. This could occur through collaboration between
hazardous waste, for
similar programs that are already running such as household
example in regard to
adequate infrastructure hazardous waste collection days, Drum Muster, Chemclear
and developing existing facilities used for recovery of used
or disclosing the
oil, paints, car batteries,gas cylinders and drums.
contents of goods and
substances?
Many of these hazardous wastes are generated in small to
medium business including farming and home-based
enterprises. As the regulatory authority for storage and
handing of workplace dangerous goods and hazardous
chemicals in NSW, WorkCover has responsibilities under
OHS legislation.
Options being considered by WorkCover NSW:

Recently, piloted a drum collection program in Lithgow
and Wallerawang areas with an aim to reduce temptation
of cutting disused drums. Special arrangement was
made with the Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) and a
licensed contractor for disposal of chemical residues
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from the collected drums.

Don’t Cut Drums - education campaign to raise
awareness of the hazards and risks of stockpiling and
performing hot works on drums

Periodic drum collection drives in conjunction with Drum
Muster and household hazardous waste collection days.

A pick-up service for larger stockpiles of drums.

Developing existing facilities for recovery of low risk
profile hazardous wastes such as used oil, paints, car
batteries drums and gas cylinders

In recognition of the environmental impacts associated
with the storage and handling of old drums WorkCover is
exploring alliances with catchment authorities and local
government.

A grant application is being prepared for funding from
NSW Environmental Trust to expand drum collection
program and fund the removal of hazardous substances
from drums.
Preferred Longer Term Solutions:
WorkCover is currently developing linkages with Drum Muster
and household hazardous waste collection days in relation to
Don’t Cut Drums project.
This process would be assisted if the federal government
adopted a broader policy position to streamline and simplify
the range of disposal options for metal drums, gas bottles and
other small quantities of hazardous wastes.
Metal drums and gas bottles should be defined as containers
so that any future stewardship programs for containers will
capture drums and gas bottles.
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