Rubbish Clearance Merton Modern Slavery Statement

This Modern Slavery Statement sets out the steps Rubbish Clearance Merton has taken, and continues to take, to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking from occurring within our business and supply chains. We recognise our responsibility to uphold human rights and ensure that the people who work for us, and with us, are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

Our Business and Supply Chain

Rubbish Clearance Merton provides waste collection, rubbish clearance, and associated services to residential and commercial customers. Our operations depend on employees, contractors, and a range of suppliers, including providers of vehicles, equipment, protective clothing, fuel, and outsourced services. We acknowledge that modern slavery risks can arise in these supply chains, particularly in labour-intensive and lower-wage sectors, and we are committed to identifying and addressing such risks.

Zero-Tolerance Policy on Modern Slavery

We operate a clear zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of modern slavery, forced labour, servitude, and human trafficking. This applies to our entire organisation and to all third parties that provide goods or services to us. No form of exploitation, coercion, or abuse will be tolerated in our business or supply chain, regardless of location or circumstances. We expect everyone working with Rubbish Clearance Merton to share this commitment and to act in ways that uphold human rights and lawful labour practices.

Standards for Employees and Contractors

All employees and contractors are required to comply with our company policies and with all applicable labour and employment laws. We provide fair pay, safe working conditions, and appropriate rest breaks. No worker is required to pay recruitment fees or surrender identity documents as a condition of employment. Any indication of forced labour, intimidation, or harassment is treated as a serious breach of our standards and will result in immediate investigation and, where appropriate, disciplinary action or termination of contracts.

Supplier Due Diligence and Audits

We are committed to working only with suppliers that uphold similar ethical standards. As part of our supplier onboarding and ongoing management, we conduct proportionate due diligence to assess the risk of modern slavery. This includes seeking information about suppliers employment practices, their own supply chains, and their policies on labour standards.

Where we identify higher-risk categories, we may carry out more detailed checks, including document reviews and site visits. We reserve the right to audit suppliers and to request evidence of compliance with relevant laws and our expectations. If a supplier is unwilling or unable to demonstrate adequate controls, we will seek to work with them to improve standards, or, if necessary, we will terminate the relationship.

Reporting Channels and Whistleblowing

We encourage all employees, contractors, suppliers, and other stakeholders to raise concerns about possible modern slavery or unethical labour practices in our operations or supply chains. Concerns can be reported to line managers, senior management, or via our designated reporting channels, which allow issues to be raised confidentially. We will investigate all reports promptly, fairly, and sensitively.

No one who raises a concern in good faith will suffer any form of retaliation, disadvantage, or dismissal for speaking up. We are committed to protecting whistleblowers and to using the information they provide to improve our practices and prevent harm.

Training and Awareness

We seek to build awareness of modern slavery risks among relevant staff, especially those involved in procurement, recruitment, and contract management. Training and guidance are provided to help our people recognise indicators of modern slavery and understand how to respond appropriately. We continue to develop our approach as best practice and legal requirements evolve.

Monitoring, Accountability, and Annual Review

Rubbish Clearance Merton is committed to continuous improvement in preventing modern slavery. We monitor our policies, supplier performance, and any issues raised through our reporting channels, and we take corrective action where weaknesses are identified. Senior management is responsible for overseeing our approach and ensuring that adequate resources and attention are devoted to this important area.

This Modern Slavery Statement is reviewed at least once every year to ensure it remains accurate, effective, and aligned with our business operations and legal obligations. Updates are approved at senior level, and any significant changes in our risk profile or controls will be reflected in future versions of this statement.