Different coloured wheelie bins for waste and recycling can work for most people, but they are not an effective aid for people with a visual impairment.
Two visually impaired sisters from Sutton are now able to easily identify their wheelie bins and recycle as much as they can after holes were drilled into their containers for easy identification by the waste collection service provider, Veolia.
Mary Philips and her twin sister, Jane, live together and they contacted Veolia in May about the new waste collection service changes and their concerns in using the new containers. Veolia’s Recycling Advisers visited the sisters to explain the service and solved their identification problems by drilling different number of holes in each of the bins they use.
This month Veolia’s Recycling Advisers re-visited the sisters to check the solution was working for them and that they were managing to use the collection service without any difficulties. Mary and Jane said: “We are keen recyclers and have been for many years. When the new waste and recycling service was introduced, we contacted Sutton Council to ask for more information about how to use the new containers. Two Recycling Advisers explained the service and made it very practical for us to use the service. The idea with the holes is great and it is so much easier now.”
Jane added: ‘I’ve sent a note to the Talking Newspaper, for the visually impaired, to talk about this new approach in identifying the bins, raise awareness and share my experience. People that have any problems identifying the different bins should contact the Council and they will help. We definitely recommend this.’
The Philips sisters have recommended Veolia to two of their friends who have also benefited from this simple but effective approach.
If you are visually impaired and would like help with identifying your bins, please call the London Borough of Sutton’s Contact Centre on 020 8770 5000 or visit www.sutton.gov.uk/recycling for more information on the waste and recycling service.