Accessibility Statement for Waste Collection Richmond upon Thames

This accessibility statement explains how our Waste Collection Richmond upon Thames information and online services aim to remain accessible and easy to use for everyone, including disabled residents and visitors. We are committed to making our digital content and customer support inclusive, so that all users can find information about waste and recycling collections, request services, and contact us without unnecessary barriers.

Our accessibility commitment

We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1, level AA. These guidelines provide a recognised standard for making web content more accessible to people with a wide range of access needs, including those who use screen readers, voice recognition software, screen magnifiers, keyboard navigation, or alternative input devices.

Our goal is that people living in or visiting Richmond upon Thames can use our waste collection information and request services independently, regardless of disability, device, or level of digital experience.

Using our site with assistive technologies

The Waste Collection Richmond upon Thames web pages are designed to be compatible with current versions of major browsers and assistive technologies. We regularly test pages with screen readers to support non-visual access to content, including headings, form fields and error messages. We aim to provide clear page titles, logical heading structures and meaningful labels so that residents can quickly identify collection days, service updates and instructions.

Where we include images related to waste collection, such as bin types or signage, we aim to provide text alternatives so that people using screen readers can understand the purpose of the images. We also strive to ensure that any icons used to represent services are accompanied by descriptive text.

Keyboard navigation

The Waste Collection Richmond upon Thames pages are intended to be fully usable with a keyboard alone, without a mouse or touch screen. You should be able to move through menus, forms and buttons using the Tab, Shift plus Tab and arrow keys. Focus indicators are designed to be visible so you can see which element is currently selected.

Interactive components, such as forms to request waste collection services or report missed collections, are designed so that buttons, checkboxes and form inputs can be activated using the keyboard. We work to avoid keyboard traps and ensure that you can navigate forwards and backwards through the page in a logical order.

Text, layout and readability

We aim to use clear, straightforward language when describing waste and recycling services in Richmond upon Thames, including collection schedules, container types and special waste arrangements. Text is structured into short sections with headings to make it easier to scan and understand.

Pages are designed to be responsive so that they work on a range of devices and screen sizes. You should be able to zoom in using your browser without losing content or functionality. We aim for sufficient colour contrast between text and background, and we avoid using colour as the only way of conveying important information.

Limitations and ongoing improvements

Although we work hard to achieve and maintain WCAG 2.1 AA standards, some legacy content or documents relating to Waste Collection Richmond upon Thames may not yet be fully accessible. This may include older PDFs or complex tables. When we update or replace these materials, we aim to improve their accessibility.

We review our services regularly and welcome feedback so that we can continue to remove barriers and improve the experience for people who rely on assistive technologies or alternative formats.

Requesting information in an accessible format

If you need waste collection information in a different format, such as large print, audio, simple language or an alternative digital format, you can contact our accessibility team. Please tell us which Waste Collection Richmond upon Thames information you need, the format you prefer, and how we can contact you. We will consider your request and aim to respond within a reasonable time.

Reporting accessibility issues

If you experience any problems accessing Waste Collection Richmond upon Thames information or online forms, or if you think we are not meeting accessibility requirements, you can contact us to report the issue. When you get in touch, please describe the page or service you were trying to use, what went wrong, and what device or assistive technology you were using. This information helps us identify and fix problems more quickly.

How to contact us about accessibility

To request an accessible format or report an accessibility problem related to Waste Collection Richmond upon Thames, please contact our customer services accessibility team. You can get in touch by phone, email or post. We will review your enquiry, work with the relevant service teams and get back to you as soon as we can to offer support or explain what action we are taking.

We are committed to making continuous improvements so that everyone can access waste collection information and services across Richmond upon Thames as independently and confidently as possible.