AVOIDING FALLS IS KEY TO AGING IN PLACE
Assistance with moving the trash carts and smaller trash carts help.
It is great to see all of the communities who are modernizing their waste management services by offering assistance with moving trash carts through a valet/backdoor service for residents with disabilities and seniors, as well as smaller trash carts. Call your city service department to see what accommodations are available to you.
Examples of communities in Ohio that provide the valet trash service/and or the smaller carts include:
- Akron
- Avon Lake
- Beachwood
- Brooklyn Heights
- Cleveland
- Cleveland Heights
- Columbus
- Kettering
- Maple Heights
- Northfield Center
- Solon
- Toledo
- University Heights
SOME COMMON ISSUES
Did you know the standard 95 gallon trash cart weighs about 39lbs empty? This is just too much for many older adults or people with disabilities. Moving them can lead to injury and other problems.
- The trash cart is too heavy and falls on top of the resident.
- The person injures themselves trying to maneuver the trash cart.
- The trash cart falls over and the resident is unable to get it back upright.
- Losing control of the cart and slipping when taking it down the drive in the winter.
DID YOU KNOW?
Waste management companies that cities contract with provide a valet trash service. They take the trash cart from the back of the house/garage, bring it to the truck and then return the cart. It’s that simple. Some cities make it available only to those with a disability, while others also offer it to seniors.
There are laws that state the right for people with disabilities to request reasonable accommodations to access city services.
Here is some reference information:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted on July 26, 1990, provides comprehensive rights and protections to individuals with disabilities in the areas of employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, and telecommunications, and prohibits state and local governments from discriminating on the basis of disability.
Requests for Reasonable Accommodation
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), the ADA, and related federal and state laws and regulations forbid discrimination against those who have disabilities and require federal aid recipients and other government entities to take affirmative steps to reasonably accommodate the disabled. Individuals with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations to access City facilities, programs, and services.
*The information provided is not intended to replace or substitute any professional, financial, medical or legal advice. All information found on this website is for general informational purposes only.