Tactile bin symbols help people with vision impairment

THE City of Greater Geelong is offering to install plastic symbols on the bins of residents who have vision impairment, or have trouble discerning different colours.

The discreet clear plastic symbols are secured to the top of the bin allowing people to feel the tactile symbol and identify whether it is a bin with a yellow, green or red lid.

A triangle represents a recycling bin, a circle means it’s a hard rubbish bin, and a square tells the person that it is a green waste bin.

“This is a great initiative for people with vision impairment or people that have trouble discerning different colours, to make an everyday task like taking out the rubbish easier,” city mayor Bruce Harwood said.

“It’s important we do everything we can to empower people with disability.”

This free service is now available and residents can request the symbols online at geelongaustralia.com.au/bins or by phoning Customer Service on 5272 5272.