Accessibility Statement for Rubbish Collection Services in Merton

Rubbish Collection Merton is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive online experience for all residents, businesses, and visitors in the Merton area. This accessibility statement explains how we support users with different needs when they access information about rubbish collection and waste services, and what to do if you experience barriers on our website.

Our commitment to accessibility

We aim for our digital rubbish collection services in Merton to be usable by as many people as possible, including people who use assistive technologies. Our goal is to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1, at the AA level. These guidelines describe how to make web content more accessible for people with disabilities, and more user friendly for everyone.

By working towards WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, we seek to provide clear content, consistent navigation, and an interface that supports residents who depend on accessible rubbish collection information in Merton, including those using screen-readers, keyboard-only navigation, or alternative input methods.

How we support screen-readers

Our website is designed to work with modern screen-reader software commonly used on desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile devices. We structure pages using meaningful headings, descriptive titles, and logical reading order so that people relying on screen-readers can understand rubbish collection details in Merton without confusion.

We aim to provide informative alternative text for key images where needed, avoid using images of text, and use clear labels for forms. This helps screen-reader users find important information, such as collection schedules, service changes, and accessible rubbish collection options in the Merton area.

Keyboard navigation and interaction

The website has been developed to be fully operable using only a keyboard. Users should be able to move through the content, activate controls, and submit forms without needing a mouse or touch input. We aim to ensure that focus order is logical, that focus is visible on interactive elements, and that keyboard users can easily reach all parts of the page.

Where possible, we avoid keyboard traps and complex interactions that may be difficult for people with mobility impairments or those using alternative keyboards. This supports equal access to rubbish collection information and online request forms for all Merton residents.

Ongoing improvements and limitations

We are continually reviewing and improving our website to enhance accessibility and usability. While we work to achieve full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, some older content or third-party components may not yet meet all requirements. When issues are identified, we prioritise updates that affect key information about rubbish collection services in the Merton area.

If you experience any difficulty accessing content, understanding information, or using our online forms, we encourage you to contact us so that we can investigate the problem and offer an alternative method of accessing the service.

Requesting information in an accessible format

If you need rubbish collection information for the Merton area in a different format, we will do our best to help. Accessible formats may include large print, easy-read text, different languages, audio descriptions, or other formats that meet your needs. We will discuss your requirements and aim to provide information in a reasonable timeframe.

How to contact us about accessibility

If you have any questions about the accessibility of our rubbish collection services in Merton, or if you want to request content in an alternative format, please contact our accessibility team by phone or email. When you contact us, please tell us which page or service you were trying to use and describe the issue you experienced. This helps us quickly identify the problem and work on a suitable solution.

We welcome feedback from residents, carers, and organisations in the Merton area about how we can make our rubbish collection information and online services more accessible. Your feedback helps us improve our website and ensures that our services are inclusive for everyone.