Commercial Waste Stratford: Modern Slavery Statement

Commercial Waste Stratford is committed to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking in all parts of our operations and supply chains. This modern slavery statement sets out our approach, responsibilities and the steps we take to ensure that forced labour, debt bondage, and exploitation have no place in the provision of commercial waste services in Stratford or in any related contractor activity. Our pledge is clear: zero-tolerance for any form of modern slavery.

Zero-tolerance Policy and Corporate Commitment

We operate with a zero-tolerance policy that applies to every colleague, subcontractor and supplier involved in the collection, processing and disposal of Stratford commercial waste. All staff and partners are required to adhere to a code of conduct that explicitly forbids exploitation and mandates lawful, fair employment practices. Policies include pre-employment checks, verification of right to work, and ongoing monitoring of working conditions in sites delivering commercial waste in Stratford.

Supplier selection and contract clauses require transparency. We insist on contractual warranties that suppliers will not engage in modern slavery and that they will cooperate with audits and corrective actions. Performance criteria include labour standards, ethical recruitment practices and prohibition of illegal fees charged to workers.

• Due diligence – risk assessments across supplier tiers for Stratford commercial waste chains;
• Regular audits – scheduled and spot audits of suppliers and subcontractors;
• Remediation – corrective plans where non-compliance is identified;
• Training – mandatory awareness training for procurement and operational teams.

Reporting channels are provided to ensure transparency and protection for anyone who raises concerns about forced labour or trafficking. We maintain safe and secure mechanisms for reporting, including anonymous reporting routes, and we guarantee that no worker or whistleblower will face retaliation as a result of raising issues about modern slavery. All reports are taken seriously, investigated promptly and escalated to senior management.

Our approach to supplier audits for commercial waste suppliers in Stratford combines document review, on-site inspections and worker interviews where appropriate. Audits are risk-based: higher-risk suppliers receive more frequent scrutiny. When audits identify issues, we require suppliers to implement time-bound remediation plans; persistent or severe breaches can lead to contract termination. Audits also inform our continuous improvement and training programmes.

Annual review and governance underpin the statement. Each year, senior leadership conducts a formal review of anti-slavery measures, supplier performance and audit outcomes to evaluate effectiveness. Metrics include number of audits completed, incidents reported and remedial actions enforced. The review informs updates to policy, procurement procedure and training content to strengthen protections across the Stratford commercial waste sector.

We work proactively with stakeholders across the supply chain to build resilience against exploitative practices. This includes collaboration with suppliers to improve worker welfare, periodic reassessments of recruitment practices and the promotion of responsible labour providers for commercial waste operations. Our procurement team uses risk-based screening to identify potential vulnerabilities and to prioritise intervention.

To embed these commitments, we provide regular training for staff and suppliers on recognising signs of modern slavery, safe reporting, and the steps to take when issues are identified. Prevention, detection and response are core to our strategy as we seek to ensure ethical operations and safe workplaces for everyone engaged in Commercial Waste Stratford activities.

We will publish updates on progress and policy changes as part of our governance cycle and will continue to review and improve our anti-slavery measures annually. This statement represents our continued dedication to combat modern slavery within the commercial waste services and in the broader Stratford waste management network.