Bass Coast Shire Council is proud to introduce a new accessibility initiative designed to make everyday tasks simpler and more independent for people who are blind or have low vision.
Tactile Bin Symbols are now available free to the community. These small, 3D‑printed shapes attach to kerbside bin lids, helping residents easily tell the difference between recycling, food and garden organics, and general rubbish by using touch instead of sight. The symbols are made from recycled plastic, aligning with Council's commitment to sustainability.
To share how the symbols work in real life, Council met with Rosalie, a Gippsland resident with lived experience of low vision.
When Rosalie was 18, she began to gradually lose her vision, and in 2003, was formally diagnosed with Stargardt disease which is a type of macular degeneration. Like many people with low vision, Rosalie had full sight earlier in life and has adapted over time, relying on memory and her remaining peripheral vision.
Living in regional Victoria, she knows first‑hand how important simple, accessible tools can be in daily life.
