Waste Collection Finchley Modern Slavery Statement

This Modern Slavery Statement is published by Waste Collection Finchley in accordance with our commitment to uphold human rights, protect workers, and prevent any form of modern slavery or human trafficking in our operations and supply chains. It covers the financial year ending 31 December and will be reviewed and updated annually.

Our Commitment and Zero-Tolerance Policy

Waste Collection Finchley operates on the principle that all individuals must be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. We have a clear zero-tolerance policy towards modern slavery, human trafficking, forced or compulsory labour, debt bondage, and child labour. This stance applies equally to our own activities and to all third parties who provide goods or services to us.

We will not knowingly work with any organisation or individual involved in, or failing to take adequate steps to prevent, modern slavery. Where we identify concerns, we will act promptly, which may include suspending or terminating relationships and reporting issues to the relevant authorities where appropriate.

Our Business and Supply Chain

Waste Collection Finchley provides waste collection, recycling, and related environmental services to residential, commercial, and public sector customers in and around Finchley. Our supply chain includes vehicle and equipment providers, maintenance contractors, fuel and personal protective equipment suppliers, and providers of office services.

We recognise that some aspects of the waste and recycling industry can be vulnerable to labour exploitation, especially where subcontracting, agency labour, and low-skilled roles are involved. We therefore take proactive steps to assess and monitor these areas of risk.

Supplier Standards and Audits

All suppliers and contractors are expected to comply with our Supplier Code of Conduct, which incorporates our zero-tolerance stance on modern slavery and outlines minimum standards on wages, working hours, freedom of movement, and workplace conditions. Suppliers must confirm that they comply with all applicable labour and human rights legislation and can evidence this if requested.

We conduct risk-based supplier audits focusing on higher-risk categories, such as temporary labour providers, recycling partners, and manual handling or cleaning contractors. Audits may include document checks, interviews, and site visits. Where non-compliance or suspected modern slavery is identified, we require a clear corrective action plan with defined timescales, and we may carry out follow-up audits to confirm improvements.

Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing

We encourage all employees, agency workers, contractors, and suppliers to report any concerns related to modern slavery or unethical labour practices. Reports can be made through line managers, the human resources team, or a dedicated confidential reporting channel operated internally.

Concerns can be raised anonymously, and we will not tolerate any form of victimisation or retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith. All reports will be investigated promptly, sensitively, and, where appropriate, in collaboration with external specialists or law enforcement agencies.

Training, Awareness, and Responsibilities

Managers, procurement staff, and supervisors involved in recruitment or supplier management receive targeted training on recognising indicators of modern slavery, conducting due diligence, and responding to concerns. All employees are briefed on our policy during induction and through periodic refresher communications.

Overall responsibility for our modern slavery approach rests with the senior management team, which oversees policy implementation, risk assessments, and follow-up actions. Operational managers are responsible for ensuring day-to-day compliance within their teams and with their suppliers.

Monitoring, Annual Review, and Continuous Improvement

We actively monitor the effectiveness of our measures through supplier audits, incident reports, employee feedback, and ongoing risk assessments. We are committed to continuous improvement and to strengthening our processes as new guidance and best practice emerge.

This Modern Slavery Statement is reviewed at least once a year by the senior management team. As part of the annual review, we evaluate audit findings, trends in reported concerns, and any changes in our supply chain or risk profile. Where needed, we will update our policies, training programmes, and due diligence procedures to ensure that our approach remains robust and effective in preventing modern slavery in our business and supply chains.