Villena installs containers adapted for use by people with reduced mobility

Villena's Department of Urban Solid Waste (RSU) and Cleaning has installed a new island of paper, packaging, and general waste containers on Avenida de la Constitución, adapted for people with reduced mobility. This is a pilot test to assess its true utility before expanding to other areas of the city, as planned with the new cleaning and domestic waste collection service contract, explained the area councillor, Sergio Palao, on Monday, accompanied by the president of AMIF, Fernando Egido, and the CEO of Rototank, Jesús Juan, the manufacturing company.

Palao explained that this "island of containers with a different format and model from those in Villena, manufactured locally, is serving as a test for what may come in the future with the new service tender, which is getting closer," if the experience proves useful for those with certain mobility limitations and difficulty using conventional containers.

The councillor stated that "AMIF asked us to adapt the containers so that people with mobility difficulties or reduced mobility could dispose of their waste in the easiest and most comfortable way. In the paper and packaging containers, a circular hole has been made in the middle section so that those in wheelchairs or those who have difficulty opening the lid can use them." However, the real novelty is the adaptation "in the general waste container so that they can use it without having to lift the lid," thanks to a protected opening at the front of the container.

Meanwhile, the president of AMIF, Fernando Egido, described it as "small steps, steps that can end in giant leaps, always thinking of those in wheelchairs, but also our elderly who are experiencing increasingly reduced mobility." Such actions "are very important, as they allow us all to be a bit more autonomous, undoubtedly a good initiative," he added.

Both the president of AMIF and the councillor have requested that people who can deposit their waste through the front entry continue to do so, and that these containers designed for people with reduced mobility are for their preferential use.

Finally, the CEO of Rototank, Jesús Juan, explained that his company is prepared to make modifications to its products to facilitate their use by groups with greater difficulties. "All containers are accessible because they are manufactured according to the standard, but there are municipalities more sensitive, like Villena, that want to go a bit further, which requires us to make these improvements," he indicated. However, "we know there are different types of mobility, and it is difficult to reach all, but an approach can be made to find a balance that serves the largest number of people."