Abstract: A system for removing particulate material from a drum wherein the drum lid is replaced by a lid which is specially designed for this service. This new lid has at least a portion which is transparent so the operator can see into the drum and determine when and if it is empty. It also has a resilient portion which includes radial slits emanating from a predetermined point to produce an iris through which a wand can be inserted. The wand is operatively connected to a vacuum system so that the operator can insert the wand into the drum through the iris, and have the iris conform to the wand sufficiently that the vacuum being pulled through the wand sucks the particles out of the drum.