Waste Swift Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Waste Swift! Your privacy and trust are paramount to us. We are deeply committed to protecting your personal data and managing it with utmost care, transparency, and integrity. This Privacy Policy details the types of information we collect, how we use it, with whom we may share it, and the rights and choices you have regarding your data.

Waste Swift operates in full compliance with Kenya’s Data Protection Act, 2019, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and relevant international privacy laws. We continuously monitor privacy regulations globally to ensure ongoing compliance.

By downloading, accessing, or using the Waste Swift mobile application ("App") or related services, you agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide, maintain, and improve our services and to personalize your experience. This includes:

a) Personal Identification Data

- Full name, email address, telephone number, and physical mailing address to create and manage your account and communicate with you.

b) Account Credentials

- Username, password, and other authentication details necessary to secure your account.

c) Location Data

- With your explicit consent, we collect precise geolocation (GPS) data from your device to facilitate waste collection services, optimize routes, and provide location-based notifications.

d) Device and Usage Information

- Technical data such as device model, operating system, IP address, device identifiers, app version, crash reports, and information on how you use our app to improve our services and troubleshoot issues.

e) Payment Information

- When you make payments through the app, we collect billing information, including payment card details. These payments are securely processed through trusted third-party payment processors; Waste Swift does not store full payment card information.

f) Communications Data

- Any correspondence you have with us via customer support, feedback, surveys, or other communications channels, which helps us respond to your inquiries and improve user satisfaction.

3. How We Use Your Information

Your data is used strictly for legitimate and necessary purposes, including but not limited to:

• Service Delivery: Enabling user registration, login, scheduling waste pickups, tracking service delivery, and maintaining your account.
• Communication: Sending service confirmations, updates, reminders, and important announcements related to your account or service.
• Personalization: Tailoring the app experience based on your preferences and location data.
• Performance Analysis: Analyzing app usage patterns and system performance to identify bugs, enhance features, and improve overall user experience.
• Security: Protecting against fraud, unauthorized access, and misuse of the app and services.
• Legal Compliance: Fulfilling legal obligations and responding to lawful requests, such as courts or regulatory authorities.
• Marketing & Promotions: Sending marketing communications only when you have provided explicit consent, with the option to opt-out at any time.

4. Legal Bases for Processing Your Data (GDPR Compliance)

For users located in the European Union, we process your personal information under one or more of the following legal bases:

• Consent: You have given clear consent for specific purposes, such as receiving marketing emails.
• Contractual Necessity: Processing needed to fulfill our service agreement with you (e.g., managing your account or providing waste collection).
• Legal Obligation: Compliance with applicable laws or regulatory requirements.
• Legitimate Interests: For purposes such as improving the app, detecting security threats, or protecting our legal rights, provided this does not override your fundamental rights and freedoms.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. However, to operate efficiently, we may share your data under strict confidentiality agreements with:

• Service Providers: Trusted third parties who support us with IT infrastructure, payment processing, cloud storage, analytics, communication services, customer support, and marketing. These processors act solely on our instructions and comply with relevant data protection laws.
• Legal Authorities: If required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, such as in response to lawful investigations or to protect rights and safety.
• Business Transfers: In the event Waste Swift is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to confidentiality protections.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including maintaining your account, complying with legal obligations, resolving disputes, enforcing agreements, and conducting fraud prevention.

When data is no longer required, we securely delete or anonymize it.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: You can request a copy of your personal data held by us.
• Rectification: Correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data (“right to be forgotten”) where applicable.
• Restriction: Ask us to limit how we process your information.
• Data Portability: Request that your data be transferred to another controller in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
• Object to Processing: Object to certain processing activities, including direct marketing.
• Withdraw Consent: At any time for processing based on your consent.
• Complaint: Lodge complaints with supervisory authorities such as the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in Kenya or the relevant EU data protection authority.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer at the contact details below. We will respond promptly and in accordance with applicable laws.

8. Security Measures

We employ a combination of industry-standard technical, physical, and organizational security measures to protect your data against unauthorized access, loss, alteration, or disclosure. These include:

• Data encryption in transit and at rest.
• Secure servers and access controls.
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
• Employee training on data privacy and security.
• Incident response protocols in case of a data breach.

Although we take every reasonable precaution, no Internet transmission or electronic storage method is 100% secure, so please use strong passwords and keep them confidential.

9. International Data Transfers

Waste Swift’s data processing may involve transferring your personal information to servers or third-party service providers located outside your country, including jurisdictions that may not provide the same level of data protection.

For such transfers, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place such as:

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission.
• Data processing agreements imposing strict privacy and security obligations on recipients.
• Compliance with applicable international data transfer frameworks.

10. Children’s Privacy

Waste Swift is not intended for use by children under 13 years of age or the applicable minimum age in your jurisdiction. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children without verifiable parental consent.

If we discover that personal information from a child has been collected without consent, we will promptly delete that data. Parents or guardians who believe their child’s data has been collected may contact us for removal.

11. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our app and associated websites may use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to:

• Enhance your user experience.
• Remember your preferences.
• Analyze app traffic and usage trends.
• Provide personalized content and advertising.

You can control or disable cookies through your device or browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some app functionalities.

12. Updates to This Privacy Policy

Waste Swift may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in laws, technology, business practices, or user feedback. When significant changes occur, we will notify you through the app, email, or other means prior to implementation.

Please review this policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.

13. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or to exercise your data protection rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer:

You also have the right to lodge complaints with the relevant data protection authorities in your jurisdiction.

By using the Waste Swift app and services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

If you would like assistance preparing a simplified summary or a user-friendly privacy notice for in-app display, feel free to ask!