Waste Education

"KERBY" was launched in September 2002 by LAWMAC as a purpose-built Mobile Community Recycling & Waste Management Educational Unit to traverse across the 31 pre-amalgamation member-shires of the LAWMAC region spanning across Cook Shire in NQ south to Sarina and west to Mount Isa & Cloncurry representing in excess of 600,000 community members.

The main project objectives of the Mobile Waste Education Unit - KERBY were:

To educate the public on ways to minimise contamination in the kerbside recycling process
To increase the profile and communicate the importance of Kerbside Recycling within the community
To raise awareness of recycled and recylable products
To raise awareness of problems associated with littering
To raise awareness of public place recycling strategies
To enable local shires to distribute educational materials

Throughout KERBY's six year lifespan it visited schools, libraries, annual shows, shopping centres and major events spreading its interactive educational message of recycling and best practice waste management to the community.

LAWMAC Chair (2000 - 2008) Cr Dave Egan (representing Douglas S/C) and LAWMAC Deputy Chair (2000 - 2004) Cr Ross "Rossko" Overton (Johnstone S/C) instigated the "KERBY" model based on a similar educational concept operated out of the Gold Coast Council at that time.

MWEU - KERBY was designed and fitted-out by Coachworks Australia (exterior) and Hot Concepts (interior) and stongly supported by LAWMAC member-councils through the deliverance of its Educational Package by individual council Environment Education Officers. Member-councils also actively contributed to the ongoing maintenance and operating costs of the unit through both monetary and "in-kind" assistance.

Kerby Kerby Interior

Kerby Interior

Vital developmental funding for MWEU - KERBY was generously provided by DERM Queensland, Visy Recycling, Australian Food & Grocery Council (previously BIEC), JJ Richards Australia, Metalcorp, Coca Cola-Amatil.

After playing such an important role in educating the North Queensland communities of the LAWMAC region on waste management, minimisation and recycling procedures "KERBY" is now enjoying a well earned retirement whilst the kerbside waste recycling message gains strength across LAWMAC's north queensland communities.

Dave Egan and Ross Overton will always be remembered and reknowned for their foresight, enthusiasm and dedication in this remarkable waste education venture.

LAWMAC Bus team

The original coordinators in the development of the MWEU-KERBY (L - R) current LAWMAC Chair Cr Greg Thomsen, Visy Recycling Qld State Manager Mr Frank Phillips, BIEC Qld Manager Mr Manny Manatakis, previous Brisbane City Council Mayor Jim Soorley, LAWMAC Chair (2000-2008) Mr Dave Egan and founding member of LAWMAC the late Mr Ross Overton.

What is LAWMAC?

The Local Authority Waste Management Advisory Committee (LAWMAC) is an organisation of nineteen North Queensland Local Government Councils dedicated to best practice waste management aiming to provide sustainable solutions through its regional forum and interactive participation across the LAWMAC region on current and future Waste Management Practices and Technologies.

LAWMAC is a 'not for profit' group comprising members from the North Queensland Local Government area from Cook Shire in the north to Mackay in the south and extending inland to Mount Isa, Burke and Cloncurry shires.

LAWMAC General Meetings are held quarterly with the Annual General Meeting scheduled asap after the end of each financial year plus a Waste Management Conference also held Bi- Annually.

Officers of the North Queensland Local Government Association, Local Government Association of Queensland, Department of Environment & Resource Management Qld, Queensland Health, Waste Industry Groups and Waste Management related representatives are encouraged to attend meetings and provide input and information, but are not entitled to vote.

Association membership is available to members of Industry, Commerce, State Agencies and other non-government organisations, but will also be without entitlement to vote at meetings.