Modern Slavery Statement — Commercial Waste Hitchin

Commercial Waste Hitchin is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all operations and supply chains. We operate a zero-tolerance policy towards forced labour, child labour and any form of exploitation. This Modern Slavery Statement explains how our Hitchin commercial waste services identify and mitigate risks and sets out the steps we take to ensure that abuse is not present in our business or the wider commercial waste sector we serve. Our commitment extends to suppliers, contractors and partners who work with our teams across Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.

Our board and senior management support a robust governance framework that allocates clear responsibilities for anti-slavery compliance and oversight. The policy is embedded in contracts and procurement terms, and every agreement with suppliers and sub-contractors includes anti-slavery assurances, right-to-audit clauses and obligations to comply with labour standards. We maintain clear escalation routes to senior leaders when issues are identified and ensure remedial plans are tracked to completion. Senior sign-off ensures accountability across all Hitchin commercial waste operations.

We conduct risk-based due diligence across our supply chain, focusing on high-risk activities such as manual sorting, seasonal labour and subcontracted transport. This due diligence includes pre-contract screening, ongoing monitoring, and targeted checks for higher-risk suppliers. Supplier selection for the commercial-waste Hitchin network takes account of labour practices, recruitment processes, agency usage and any indicators of exploitation. We also require documentation on worker wages, working hours, valid right-to-work checks and any recruitment fees paid on behalf of workers, with corrective action where gaps are found.

Procurement and Supplier Audits

Supplier audits are a core control for us. Our audit programme includes both desktop and on-site reviews and is designed to uncover non-compliance early. Audit activities include:

• document reviews and contractual compliance checks;
• on-site inspections of sorting, recycling and transport facilities;
• interviews with workers and management where appropriate, and verification of payroll records.

Audits are scheduled according to assessed risk levels, with higher frequency and depth for suppliers operating in complex or informal labour markets, and results feed into supplier performance ratings.

Reporting channels are confidential, widely publicised internally and accessible externally for contractors and supply chain workers. We provide multiple avenues for raising concerns, including an anonymous reporting mechanism, internal whistleblowing hotlines and direct escalation to our compliance team. We operate a strict non-retaliation approach: anyone raising concerns in good faith will be protected, and reports will be treated seriously, investigated promptly and escalated where needed to regulatory authorities or law enforcement partners.

We maintain a supplier improvement programme that supports remediation where issues are identified. This includes corrective action plans, time-bound milestones, targeted training and follow-up audits to verify compliance. Training and capacity building are offered to help suppliers meet our standards. If a supplier fails to remediate serious breaches within agreed timescales, we will terminate the relationship, impose contractual penalties and seek alternative providers that uphold human rights and labour standards in the Hitchin commercial waste industry.

Monitoring, Reporting and Annual Review

Monitoring is continuous and data-driven. We track key performance indicators including audit results, number and nature of reports, remediation outcomes and training completion rates. Our incident register records findings and corrective actions to ensure transparency and accountability across our commercial waste management services in Hitchin and related operations. Regular management reports summarise trends, root causes and supplier performance improvements, helping to prioritise areas for action.

The policy is supported by regular training for staff, contractors and line managers, covering recognition of exploitation, appropriate recruitment checks and safe channels for workers to speak up. We enforce our zero-tolerance policy through contractual remedies, suspension of supply relationships and disciplinary processes, ensuring that any proven case of modern slavery results in firm consequences for individuals and organisations responsible. We will also work with authorities where criminal conduct is suspected.

This statement is reviewed at least annually and revised when needed to reflect emerging risks and legislative changes. The annual review assesses risk profiles, the effectiveness of supplier audits, adequacy of reporting channels and progress against corrective action plans. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement we will update policies, enhance supplier oversight, invest in training and allocate resources to priority areas. The Modern Slavery Statement for Commercial Waste Hitchin is approved by senior management and communicated internally to staff and externally to key stakeholders in summary form to promote accountability and continuous compliance.