Modern Slavery Statement for Waste Collection Elephant and Castle

This Modern Slavery Statement sets out the steps Waste Collection Elephant and Castle takes to identify, prevent, and address modern slavery and human trafficking in our operations and supply chains. We recognise our responsibility to act ethically and with integrity in all business relationships, and to implement effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our business or in our supply network.

Our Commitment and Zero-Tolerance Policy

Waste Collection Elephant and Castle operates a strict zero-tolerance approach to all forms of modern slavery, forced labour, human trafficking, child labour, and exploitation. This commitment applies to all employees, agency workers, contractors, and suppliers who provide goods and services to our business. We expect the same high standards from all stakeholders and take any breach of this policy extremely seriously.

Our zero-tolerance stance is embedded in our company policies and is communicated clearly during onboarding, contract negotiations, and supplier engagement. We will not knowingly work with any party that is involved in, or complicit with, modern slavery or human trafficking and we reserve the right to terminate relationships where our standards are not met.

Risk Assessment and Due Diligence

We continuously assess the risk of modern slavery within our operations and supply chains, with particular focus on high-risk areas such as temporary labour, subcontracted services, and procurement of equipment and materials. Where higher risks are identified, we apply enhanced due diligence to verify labour practices, recruitment methods, and working conditions.

Due diligence includes reviewing supplier policies, requesting supporting documentation regarding labour standards, and ensuring that appropriate contracts and codes of conduct are in place. We seek to work with suppliers who share our values and demonstrate a clear commitment to ethical employment practices.

Supplier Standards and Audits

All suppliers and contractors engaged by Waste Collection Elephant and Castle are required to comply with our ethical sourcing requirements, including explicit obligations relating to modern slavery and human rights. These expectations are set out in our supplier standards and form part of our contractual arrangements.

We undertake supplier audits based on a risk-based approach, which may include desk-based reviews and on-site inspections. These audits are designed to assess compliance with labour standards, verify working conditions, and identify any indicators of forced or exploitative labour. Where non-compliance is identified, we work with suppliers to agree corrective actions and timescales. Failure to implement improvements may result in suspension or termination of the business relationship.

Training, Awareness, and Reporting Channels

We ensure that relevant employees, including managers, procurement staff, and supervisors, receive training and guidance to recognise the signs of modern slavery and to understand the actions they should take if concerns arise. Awareness is reinforced through internal communications and ongoing engagement with teams and key suppliers.

Waste Collection Elephant and Castle provides clear and confidential reporting channels so that employees, contractors, and other stakeholders can raise concerns about suspected modern slavery without fear of retaliation. Reports can be made to line managers, senior management, or directly to our designated compliance contact by phone or email. All reports are taken seriously, investigated promptly, and handled sensitively, with appropriate remedial action taken where necessary.

Continuous Improvement and Annual Review

We are committed to continually improving our processes to combat modern slavery and human trafficking. This includes refining our risk assessment methods, enhancing our supplier engagement, and monitoring the effectiveness of our training, policies, and audits.

This Modern Slavery Statement is reviewed annually by senior management to ensure it remains effective, relevant, and aligned with current legislation and best practice. As part of the review, we evaluate any incidents, audit findings, and feedback from employees and suppliers, and we update our approach where needed to strengthen our safeguards.

This statement has been approved by the leadership of Waste Collection Elephant and Castle and represents our ongoing commitment to upholding human rights, promoting fair labour practices, and ensuring that modern slavery has no place in our business or supply chains.