3 Things to Consider About Accessibility in Recycling

When we think about recycling, it’s easy to take for granted that we can just walk up to a recycling bin, place our item in the bin, and then walk away and continue with our day.

Here are a few things that everyone should understand about ADA recycling accessibility.

1. Children with visual impairments

Teaching children early in life to recycle is important. But what if the child is visually impaired and can’t read the signs? One option is to have braille options for the signs. But what if the child is very young and hasn’t learned braille yet? Perhaps placing a shape on the container to represent paper, plastic, etc. can be a great way to encourage them to be a part of the recycling program.

2. Making bins accessible to everyone

Mobility impairment can make it difficult to do many things. For example, sometimes bins can be too tall for the person to easily read the signage and reach over the bin to dispose of their recycling. Placing signage appropriately for those in wheelchairs and making them easily accessible makes recycling easy for those who are mobility impaired.

3. ADA compliance is key

ADA is the Americans With Disabilities Act. It was created to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities. The ADA standards dictate the design and dimensions of public facilities to make them safe for people with disabilities. The ADA standards website has all the appropriate guidelines listed for public services. Along with these minimum standards, a lot can be done to not only meet the minimum requirements but also to make the experience as comfortable and pleasant as possible for everyone. After all, the goal is to get everyone involved with recycling.

When people have trouble reaching or even reading bins, this can present a real challenge. By designing ADA-compliant recycling and trash cans in an accessible way, everyone can recycle and feel inclusive within their workplace and community.