Business Ethics Policy

Compliance with the law
Confidential information
Conflicts of interest
Accounting standards and records
External reporting
Employees
Customers
Community
Environment
Policies and procedures
Implementation

1. Compliance with the law

Choice Waste Management will comply fully with all relevant national and international laws and will act in accordance with local guidelines and regulations, including those which are industry specific, governing our operations.
It is the responsibility of the Directors of Choice Waste Management to ensure, by taking legal or other expert advice where appropriate, that they are aware of all local laws and regulations which may affect the part of the business in which they are engaged, including tax and exchange controls.
Even where the law does not apply, applicable standards of ethics and morality relate to our activities and require the same diligence and attention to good conduct and citizenship. Employees must avoid situations where appearance of impropriety exists, even though the circumstances might not otherwise specifically violate this code of conduct.

2. Confidential information

Employees must not make use of confidential information obtained through their employment for personal gain, nor disclose such information to any third party during or after their employment. The term “confidential information” does not include information already in the public domain, information that was already known to the Recipient at the time of its disclosure, or information that is required by law to be disclosed

3. Conflicts of interest

Sales of the Company’s services and products and purchases of products and services from suppliers will be made solely on the basis of quality, performance, price and value, and never on the basis of giving or receiving inducements in the form of payments, gifts, entertainment or favours or in any other form.
Every employee has a duty to avoid business, financial or other direct or indirect interests or relationships which conflict with the interests of the Company, or which divides his or her loyalty to the Company. Any activity which even appears to present such a conflict must be avoided or terminated unless, after disclosure to the appropriate level of management, it is determined that the activity is not unethical or improper, does not compromise integrity and is not detrimental to the reputation and standing of the company.

4. Accounting standards and records

All accounting documentation must clearly identify the true nature of business transactions, assets and liabilities in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. No record or entry must be false, distorted, incomplete or suppressed.

5. External reporting

Choice Waste Management businesses may be required to make statements or provide reports to regulatory bodies, government agencies or other government departments. Care should be taken to ensure that such statements or reports are correct, timely and not misleading. Senior management must be made aware of any sensitive disclosure before it is made.
Care must also be taken when making statements to the media that information given is correct and not misleading. Enquiries from the media should be referred to company media relations experts and statements should only be made by designated spokespersons.

6. Employees

Choice Waste Management supports the principles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is committed to upholding these principles in its policies, procedures and practices. Respect for human rights is and will remain integral to our operations. We will respect freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining in accordance with local legislation and practice.
Employment will be freely chosen with no use of forced labour or child labour.
In dealing with our employees and contractors, we will act in compliance with national regulatory requirements and government guidelines. We will not discriminate on the basis of gender, colour, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation or disability.
Employees will be paid and work hours at least as favourable as the terms established by national legislation or agreements or industry standards.
We will take measures to ensure that the work of our employees and contractors does not compromise internationally accepted human rights conventions, whilst recognizing and respecting the diversity in local cultures across the different countries in which we operate.
We will endeavor to ensure that we work with business partners who conduct their business in a way that is compatible with our policies of respect for human rights and ethical conduct. We will work with customers and contractors to ensure that contractual requirements do not infringe human rights.

7. Customers

Mutual trust and confidence between Choice Waste Management and its customers is vital. All employees should strive to consistently deliver service excellence and value for money, meeting customers’ expectations and anticipating their changing requirements.

8. Community

Choice Waste Management is fully committed to supporting and assisting the communities in which the company or its contractors operate through a variety of means. Choice Waste Management will also serve local communities by providing good employment opportunities and effective services and products which safeguard the public good.

9. Environment

We will conduct our business with respect and consideration for the communities in which we operate and for the environment. We will take steps to minimize any disturbance to communities as a result of our operations. As a service organization, our environmental impact is small in relation to manufacturing industries. However, in each of our operations we will strive to minimize our impact on the environment through reduction of waste, vehicle emissions and energy consumption. In response to our commitment to the Environment we have taken steps to ensure

10. Policies and procedures

Choice Waste Management recognizes that there are risks associated with carrying out any business activity. Management is responsible both for ensuring that policies and procedures are in place to manage risks and for complying with those policies and procedures. Employees should ensure that they are aware of the risks associated with their activities and that they comply with policies and procedures in place to manage those risks.

11. Implementation

This Business Ethics Policy must be adopted by all as a minimum standard and issued to all Choice Waste Management employees. It will be monitored as part of Choice Waste Management compliance processes. The policy will be reviewed annually.