Accessibility Statement for Waste Collection Merton

Waste Collection Merton is committed to providing an accessible digital experience for all residents, businesses, and visitors who rely on our waste and recycling services in the Merton area. We want everyone to be able to use our online information and booking tools independently, including people who use assistive technologies or need alternative formats. This accessibility statement explains the steps we take to make our website usable, how we measure accessibility, and how you can contact us if you need support or want to report an issue.

Our Accessibility Standards

We aim for our website and digital services to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1, level AA. These guidelines are internationally recognised standards that describe how to make web content more accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, hearing, cognitive, and motor impairments. By working towards WCAG 2.1 AA, we strive to ensure that booking waste collection in Merton, viewing collection calendars, and reading information about recycling are all as accessible as possible.

Screen Reader Support

We design and structure our pages to work clearly with screen readers and other text to speech tools. Our goal is that headings, paragraphs, and lists are in a logical order, so that users can navigate efficiently and understand our content about accessible waste collection in Merton. We aim to provide descriptive text for images where they convey important meaning, such as icons used for different types of bins or waste. We also work to ensure that form fields, such as those used to request a special collection or report a missed bin, have clear labels and instructions that can be read aloud by screen readers.

Keyboard Navigation

We are committed to making our website usable for people who rely on a keyboard or alternative input device, and who cannot use a mouse or touch gestures. Key functions, including moving between sections of a page, selecting options, and submitting forms, should be possible using only the keyboard. We aim to keep a clear focus indicator visible as you tab through links, buttons, and form elements. This helps users understand where they are on the page when booking or managing waste collection services in Merton, or when viewing important service updates.

Readable and Understandable Content

We try to use clear, straightforward language throughout our website so information about waste collection in Merton is easy to understand. This includes explaining technical terms where they are used, avoiding unnecessary jargon, and breaking content into short paragraphs with meaningful headings. We also consider colour contrast and font size, so text remains readable for people with visual impairments or reading difficulties. Where possible, we allow users to adjust their browser or device settings, such as zoom level or contrast mode, without losing access to our content or functions.

Compatibility with Different Devices and Browsers

Our website is designed to be responsive so that you can access waste collection information and services in Merton on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. We test with commonly used browsers and devices to help ensure a consistent experience. Although we cannot guarantee full support for very old software or hardware, we aim to maintain broad compatibility and avoid features that are known to cause accessibility barriers.

Ongoing Improvements

Accessibility is an ongoing process, and we regularly review our website to identify and correct issues. When adding new features, such as updated booking tools or guidance for accessible waste collection services in Merton, we assess them against WCAG 2.1 AA requirements. We welcome feedback from users and from local organisations to help us prioritise improvements and better understand the needs of people who may experience digital barriers.

Contact for Accessibility Requests and Feedback

If you have difficulty accessing any part of our website or online services, or if you need information about waste collection Merton in a different format, such as large print, audio, or easy read, you can contact our accessibility team. You can also contact us to arrange reasonable adjustments to waste collection services, for example assisted collections for residents who cannot move their bins to the kerb.

To make an accessibility request or to report an accessibility problem with our website, please contact our customer service team in Merton and tell us:

Which page or service you were using, what you were trying to do, and what went wrong or was difficult to use. We will review your request, aim to respond within a reasonable timeframe, and work with you to provide an accessible solution wherever possible.