Accessibility Statement for Waste Collection Barnes Website

Waste Collection Barnes is committed to making our online information and local waste services in the Barnes area accessible and usable for everyone. We want all residents, businesses, and visitors to be able to find information and request waste collection support as independently as possible.

This Accessibility Statement explains the standards we follow, the steps we are taking to improve accessibility, and how you can contact us if you need information in a different format or want to report any accessibility issues.

Our accessibility commitment

Our goal is for the Waste Collection Barnes website to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1, level AA. These internationally recognised guidelines set out how to make web content easier to perceive, operate, understand, and use for people with a wide range of access needs.

We are working to ensure that all key information about waste collection in Barnes, including service descriptions, operating times, booking information, and contact details, is available in a format that works for users of assistive technologies and a broad range of devices.

Measures we take to support accessibility

We are actively improving the accessibility of the Waste Collection Barnes website. The following measures have been implemented or are in progress to support accessibility for all users in the Barnes area:

We aim to provide clear structure and headings so that pages are logical and easy to navigate. Content is written in plain and straightforward language wherever possible, especially for essential waste collection information such as household collections, bulky waste, and recycling services.

Screen reader compatibility

The Waste Collection Barnes website is designed to be compatible with modern screen reader software. We use semantic HTML where possible so that headings, paragraphs, and important sections of content are correctly identified for screen readers.

We also aim to provide meaningful alternative text for images where these images convey important information about waste collection in the Barnes area. This helps users who rely on audio descriptions to understand the same content that is shown visually.

Keyboard navigation

The website is being developed so that it can be navigated using a keyboard only, without the need for a mouse or touch device. This includes the ability to move through menus, forms, and key content areas using the Tab, Shift plus Tab, Enter, and arrow keys.

We aim to provide a visible focus indicator so that users can clearly see which element on the page is selected while using keyboard navigation. Our intention is for all interactive elements related to waste collection services in Barnes to be reachable and operable by keyboard.

Compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA

Our target is full compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards across the core areas of the Waste Collection Barnes website. This includes ensuring sufficient colour contrast for text and important icons, providing text alternatives for non text content, and creating clear labels for form fields where users request or change a waste collection service.

We review the site regularly as part of our ongoing improvement process. Where we identify issues that may prevent us from meeting WCAG 2.1 AA requirements, we will prioritise fixing them, particularly when they affect essential waste collection information for the Barnes community.

Limitations and ongoing improvements

Some parts of the Waste Collection Barnes website may not yet meet all the WCAG 2.1 AA criteria. This may include older content, documents, or components that were created before our current accessibility approach was adopted.

We are working to update or replace content that does not meet accessibility standards, focusing first on pages and features that are most important for accessing waste collection services in the Barnes area.

Requesting information in an accessible format

If you need any information from the Waste Collection Barnes website in an alternative, more accessible format, please contact our accessibility team. You can request accessible versions of key service information, such as collection schedules, recycling guidance, or instructions for booking a special collection.

When you contact us, please tell us which content you need help with, the format you require, and how we can best support your access needs. We will respond as soon as we reasonably can and will work with you to provide the information in a suitable format.

Reporting accessibility issues

We welcome feedback from all users of the Waste Collection Barnes website. If you find any accessibility barriers or have difficulty using any part of the site, please let us know. Your feedback helps us to identify problems, improve our digital services, and make online waste collection information more accessible to everyone in the Barnes area.

When you report an issue, please include as much detail as possible, such as the page you were using, what you were trying to do, and any assistive technology you were using at the time. We will investigate your report and aim to resolve any issues promptly.

Continuous improvement

Accessibility is an ongoing process. We are committed to regularly reviewing and enhancing the Waste Collection Barnes website to improve usability and access for all users, including people with disabilities. As our services in the Barnes area develop, we will continue to review how we present information online and how we can better support inclusive, accessible waste collection services.