Proposed changes to waste collection in the south have raised potential red flags with an advocacy group for blind citizens.
On Wednesday, a joint hearing was held by Invercargill City Council and Gore District Council for changes to kerbside collection.
New bins for glass recycling and green waste are being explored in addition to existing bins for general rubbish and recycling.
Association of Blind Citizens Southland branch chair Carolyn Weston said that although the logic for introducing new bins seemed sound, access issues could be a factor outside the gate.
Weston said the number of bins on the street at one time could affect blind or deafblind people, while pointing out they were often left “all over the place” after being collected.
“If we could have a guarantee that the trucks would drop the bins back on the side of the kerb and not just drop them all over the path, then life would be a lot easier and safer for blind and deafblind people,” she wrote.
Many of the group’s members lived alone in units or flats where storage for an extra glass bin could pose a problem, she noted.
Other issues included some totally blind people having issues figuring out which bin was which, and wind blowing bins away.
“When examining the pros and cons of increasing the number of kerbside bins, it is important that all Southland citizens are kept well and safe,” she said.
At the hearing, Councillor Alex Crackett asked Weston if Braille would help with identifying bins, which was welcomed.
Three options were put forward for consultation: a staff recommendation to add a separate glass bin; separate bins for glass and green waste; sticking with the status quo.
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