Accessibility Statement for Rubbish Collection in Lewisham

This accessibility statement explains how accessibility is built into the Rubbish Collection Lewisham service. We are committed to ensuring that residents, businesses, and visitors in the Lewisham area can access information and request rubbish collection services in an inclusive and barrier-free way, regardless of technology or ability.

Our commitment to accessibility

We aim for our digital rubbish collection information and online services in Lewisham to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 level AA. These guidelines describe how to make web content more usable and accessible for people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, hearing, cognitive, and motor impairments. We continue to review and improve our service so that it is clear, simple, and inclusive.

WCAG 2.1 AA compliance

We work towards WCAG 2.1 AA compliance across all core pages that describe rubbish collection services in Lewisham, including general waste, recycling, bulky item collections, and related support. This includes making sure that content is structured with clear headings, readable text, and sufficient colour contrast. We also aim to ensure that important information about collection days, service disruptions, and special assistance options can be understood without relying on colour or complex layouts.

Screen-reader and assistive technology support

Our content for Rubbish Collection Lewisham is designed to be compatible with common screen readers and other assistive technologies. We use descriptive page titles, headings, and text alternatives for essential images so that users who rely on speech or braille output can understand important service information. We avoid using images of text for key details wherever possible. Forms and interactive features related to booking, changing, or cancelling rubbish collection are being reviewed so that labels, instructions, and error messages are accessible to screen-reader users.

Keyboard navigation

We aim to make our rubbish collection information and online services in Lewisham fully usable with a keyboard alone, without the need for a mouse. Users should be able to move through menus, forms, and buttons in a logical order using the keyboard. Focus indicators are provided to show which element is currently selected. We regularly test key journeys, such as checking collection schedules or requesting special assistance with bins, to help ensure that they are accessible via keyboard navigation.

How we design and test for accessibility

Accessibility is considered at each stage when we design or update content about Rubbish Collection Lewisham. We review pages, forms, and documents against WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria. We also carry out manual checks using keyboard-only navigation and screen-reader testing to identify and resolve common barriers. When new features or changes are introduced, we assess their impact on users with different needs and adjust where required.

Known limitations

While we strive for full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, some documents or older content about rubbish collection in the Lewisham area may not yet meet these standards. Certain complex tables or legacy documents may be more difficult to navigate with assistive technologies. We are working to update or replace such content over time and to provide accessible alternatives where possible.

Requesting information in an accessible format

If you need information about Rubbish Collection Lewisham in a different format, such as large print, audio, easy read, or an alternative language, you can contact our team. Please explain what information you need, which format you require, and how we can best send it to you. We will consider your request and aim to respond within a reasonable timeframe.

Contact for accessibility support and feedback

We welcome feedback about the accessibility of our rubbish collection services in the Lewisham area. If you find any part of the service difficult to use or believe we are not meeting accessibility requirements, you can contact our accessibility team by phone or email. When you get in touch, please include details of the page or service you were using and describe the problem you experienced. This helps us investigate the issue and work on a suitable fix or alternative.

Continuous improvement

We are committed to continually improving the accessibility of Rubbish Collection Lewisham. As technologies, standards, and user needs evolve, we will review this accessibility statement and our approach on a regular basis. Our aim is to provide a reliable, inclusive rubbish collection service that can be accessed and understood by everyone in the Lewisham community.