The What Goes Where Wheel for Local Authority Recycling Schemes

We are pleased to announce the launch of the What Goes Where Wheel – a recycling wheel for Local Authorities that has been designed specifically for people who need help the most.

Recycling information discs are a relatively new phenomenon and they are catching on in popularity but are they helpful to all of the residents in the borough? There are no BSI guidelines for this product and many UK printers are working with local authorities to produce individual versions of the disc. However, they are using a design template based on a combination of two or three discs that ticks all the boxes for the local authority but shows little consideration for the users.

We have identified problems with the existing model and have produced a recycling disc designed with the user in mind. The new product is called “The What Goes Where Wheel”.

In a recent press release, our marketing manager, Helen Mihill, pointed out problems with the old style discs, “The residents of the borough who are the most likely to have problems with the recycling wheels are the ones who need most help in the first place. Elderly people who might have restricted mobility in their hands will struggle to operate the wheels and the print is so small that anyone with failing eyesight will also have a problem reading the information. A person with reading difficulties would find the discs easier to understand if the design had incorporated symbols or pictures. Half of the information on the discs is upside down which is confusing and the arrangement of the text on the wheel is often arranged anti-clockwise which creates confusion.”

Another major design fault is the arrangement of the information which is usually in alphabetical order. Helen continued with her observations, “A simple word such as “tins” is excluded from many recycling wheels. Instead, designers have opted to list “tins” under “B” for biscuit tins; “F” for food cans and even “P” for pet food tins.”

“Enterprising local authorities have taken a large step in the right direction in opting to use an interactive information wheel and should be applauded for their efforts but they really should have made the product with the user in mind,” said Helen. “The whole point of making an information disc is to pass on information in a useful, informative and easy-to-use fashion. Wheel charts are brilliant providing that the user is given proper consideration at the design stage.”

The “What Goes Where Wheel” addresses these design issues. It features a ribbed wheel which is enclosed in a sturdy square sleeve. This design makes the product easier to use by anyone with restricted hand mobility. There is no “upside down” information. Waste types are colour-coded and arranged in easy-to-find groups such as tins and cans, glass, paper and plastic. A picture to help those with reading difficulties accompanies each description. Bin destinations are shown in colour and in type to help anyone who might have difficulty differentiating the colours.

“The What Goes Where Wheel” comes in a choice of two different boards to help with budgetary considerations. It can also be supplied with a chain so that it can be hung on a hook. Whitney Woods offers a complete design service for customizing each disc to the recycling system adopted by each individual authority and provides easy-to-follow blank templates to assist local authority recycling officers.