Modern Slavery Statement for Rubbish Collection Sutton

Our commitment

Rubbish Collection Sutton is firmly committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all aspects of our operations and supply chains. We recognise that waste management and related services can be exposed to labour risks, and we take proactive steps to identify, prevent, and address any form of exploitation connected with our business.

This statement sets out the actions we take to uphold human rights, how we monitor our suppliers, and the channels available for reporting concerns. It applies to all employees, agency workers, contractors, and suppliers working with or on behalf of Rubbish Collection Sutton.

Zero-tolerance policy on modern slavery

We operate a strict zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and child labour. Any form of exploitation is fundamentally incompatible with our values and with the way we expect business to be conducted.

All staff are required to act ethically and with integrity in all business dealings. Managers are responsible for promoting awareness of our stance on modern slavery and ensuring that team members understand their obligations. Any employee who is found to be involved in, facilitating, or turning a blind eye to modern slavery may face disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, and, where appropriate, referral to the relevant authorities.

Supply chain standards and due diligence

Our suppliers and subcontractors play a vital role in delivering waste collection and related services. We expect them to uphold the same high standards that we set for ourselves. As a condition of working with us, suppliers must comply with all applicable labour, employment, and human rights laws and must not engage in any form of modern slavery or human trafficking.

We conduct due diligence on key suppliers before entering into new contracts, taking into account their policies on labour practices, working conditions, and ethical conduct. Where higher risk is identified, we may request additional documentation or clarification regarding recruitment processes, use of agency labour, and safeguards against exploitation.

Supplier audits and ongoing monitoring

To help ensure that our expectations are being met in practice, we operate a programme of supplier audits and ongoing monitoring. These audits may include site visits, interviews with workers where appropriate, and reviews of employment records and policies.

We prioritise audits in areas where there may be a higher risk of labour exploitation, such as the use of subcontracted or temporary labour. Where non-compliance or areas of concern are identified, we expect suppliers to put in place corrective action plans within an agreed timeframe. If a supplier is unwilling or unable to address serious breaches related to modern slavery, we may suspend or terminate the business relationship.

Reporting channels and whistleblowing

We encourage anyone with concerns about possible modern slavery connected to our operations or supply chain to report them at the earliest opportunity. Concerns can be raised with a line manager, a senior manager, or directly with our central management team. Reports can be made in confidence, and we will treat all information sensitively and seriously.

We do not tolerate victimisation or retaliation against any person who raises a concern in good faith, whether the concern turns out to be substantiated or not. All allegations will be reviewed, and where necessary we will investigate, work with relevant authorities, and take appropriate action to protect affected individuals and prevent any recurrence.

Training, awareness, and continuous improvement

We aim to build awareness of modern slavery risks across our organisation through induction briefings and periodic refresher communications. Employees whose roles involve procurement, contract management, or supervision of subcontractors receive additional guidance on identifying risk indicators and escalating concerns.

We recognise that tackling modern slavery is an ongoing process. We regularly review our procedures, look for opportunities to strengthen our approach, and take into account industry guidance and evolving best practice in ethical supply chain management.

Annual review and approval

This Modern Slavery Statement is reviewed at least annually to ensure it remains accurate, effective, and proportionate to the nature and scale of our business. As part of the review, we evaluate the effectiveness of our supplier audits, our reporting channels, and any incidents or complaints raised during the year.

Following each review, we update our actions and priorities for the coming year, with the aim of continually improving our ability to prevent and address modern slavery across our operations and supply chains. This statement has been prepared on behalf of Rubbish Collection Sutton and approved by the companys leadership.