Waste Sector Says Zero to Modern Slavery this October
As Group Head of Sustainability, I am determined to make positive change happen across the environment and society we operate from. As part of our award-winning social value programme, RSVP, we are committed to working with socially responsible businesses to support our local communities.
On the 18th of October, it is Anti-Slavery Day and to mark the day we, alongside the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) Waste & Recycling Working Group and Hope for Justice, are running a campaign #WasteSectorSaysZero to take a stand and show that the waste sector has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery.
Shockingly, modern slavery is present and happening in the UK and is a daily reality for thousands of people. The waste and recycling sector is particularly targeted by organised crime groups who exploit people and the businesses they place them in. This is mainly down to the nature of some of the roles in this sector, particularly picking lines and especially where people are not directly employed.
At Reconomy, we build strong relationships with our supply chain partners, ensuring ongoing communication and collaboration around topics such as this, including the risks associated with using some recruitment agencies and what safeguarding and right to work systems must be put in place. There are some excellent resources available to help with this and to help spot the signs at work and in everyday life.
- Stronger Together for instance is a business-led initiative aiming to reduce modern slavery by providing guidance, training, resources and a network for employers https://www.stronger2gether.org/about-us/
- Modern Slavery Helpline is your first port of call if you are at all suspicious that modern day slavery might be taking place https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/
The IPHR Waste & Recycling Working Group consists of businesses from across several industries joining forces to make the sector as inhospitable to exploiters as possible and help prevent businesses from being exploited. The Working Group has developed a tool kit aimed at waste and recycling companies and the businesses that use those services.
The IPHR Waste & Recycling Working Group has a free webinar on Anti-Slavery Day that I’ll be speaking at. If you are interested in finding out more, then please register by clicking here. Keep an eye on what is happening and show your support by following our social media pages and our #WasteSectorSaysZero activity.