Modern Slavery Statement for Waste Removal Swiss Cottage

Waste Removal Swiss Cottage is committed to conducting its business responsibly and ethically. This Modern Slavery Statement sets out our approach to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in our operations and supply chains. We recognise our responsibility to respect human rights and to take a proactive stance against any form of exploitation associated with our services.

Our Business and Supply Chain

Waste Removal Swiss Cottage provides waste collection, recycling, and disposal services to residential, commercial, and public sector clients. Our activities rely on a network of suppliers and contractors, including providers of vehicles, fuel, equipment, uniforms, information technology, and temporary labour. We acknowledge that some of these areas can present a higher risk of labour exploitation, and we are committed to identifying and addressing these risks.

Zero-Tolerance Policy on Modern Slavery

We operate a zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and child labour. This applies to our own operations and extends to every supplier, subcontractor, and business partner we engage with. We expect all parties we work with to uphold the same high standards of integrity and respect for human rights.

Our employees, managers, and contractors are made aware that any involvement in modern slavery practices is unacceptable and will result in disciplinary action, including termination of contracts and, where appropriate, reporting to relevant authorities. We will not knowingly work with any organisation that fails to demonstrate a clear commitment to preventing modern slavery in its own operations and supply chains.

Due Diligence and Supplier Audits

We undertake proportionate due diligence on key suppliers and contractors to assess the risk of modern slavery. New suppliers are required to confirm that they comply with all applicable labour and human rights laws and that they have effective policies and controls in place to prevent exploitation and trafficking.

Where we identify higher-risk categories, such as labour agencies, cleaning, or certain logistics services, we may conduct more detailed assessments, which can include on-site audits, document reviews, and interviews with management. We reserve the right to carry out audits of any supplier or contractor at reasonable notice to verify compliance with our zero-tolerance policy on modern slavery.

If a supplier is found to be in breach of our standards, we will work with them to implement corrective actions within clearly defined timeframes. Failure to remedy non-compliance may result in the suspension or termination of our relationship.

Training, Awareness, and Reporting Channels

We provide guidance and training, appropriate to role and seniority, to help our staff understand the signs of modern slavery and the steps to take if they suspect abuse. Managers are responsible for reinforcing the importance of ethical conduct and for ensuring that concerns are treated seriously.

We maintain accessible internal reporting channels so that employees, agency workers, and contractors can raise any concerns relating to modern slavery or unethical conduct. Concerns can be reported to line managers, senior management, or through designated confidential reporting routes. Reports can be made anonymously where permitted by law, and we do not tolerate any form of victimisation against individuals who raise concerns in good faith.

Continuous Improvement and Annual Review

We are committed to continuously improving our approach to identifying and managing the risks of modern slavery. This includes reviewing our policies, supplier onboarding processes, and audit procedures to reflect evolving best practice and legal requirements.

This Modern Slavery Statement is reviewed annually by senior management to ensure it remains accurate, effective, and aligned with our operational practices. The review considers any incidents reported, audit findings, changes in our supply chain, and feedback from stakeholders. Where necessary, we update our procedures and training to strengthen our controls and to further reduce the risk of modern slavery within our business and supply chains.

This Statement has been approved by the management of Waste Removal Swiss Cottage, who are responsible for its implementation and for ensuring that the principles described are embedded throughout the organisation.