Scrap Metal Licences

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 came into effect on 1 October 2013. This legislation requires anyone involved in scrap metal dealing to obtain the appropriate licences.

Scrap metal Policy

Do I need a licence to deal in scrap metal?

If you collect and carry scrap metal or have a site which buys/sells scrap metal, you will require either a Scrap Metal Dealers Site Licence or a Scrap Metal Collectors Licence within each of the districts you trade in.

Each licence lasts for 3 years. If you apply for a Scrap Metal Site Licence this covers you to collect anywhere within England or Wales as long as the collection is by arrangement only and not door to door collections.

The definition of a Scrap Metal Dealer is 'someone carrying on a business which consists of buying or selling scrap metal whether or not the metal is sold in the form in which it is bought'.

Mobile collectors and site licence holders need to ensure they comply with relevant environmental legislation and regulation when carrying out their business. An Environmental Permit or exemption is required for a site licence and a Waste Carriers licence may be required for a collectors licence. You will need to check with the Environment Agency.

Scrap metal dealers site licence

If you trade from a fixed location within the Tendring District you need to apply for a Scrap Metal Dealers Site Licence.

If a site licence holder uses self-employed mobile collectors to collect scrap metal which will be processed by the site, each collector will require a Scrap Metal Collectors Licence.

Scrap metal collectors licence

This is defined as “a person that carries on a business as a scrap metal dealer other than at a site, and regularly engages in the course of that business in collecting waste materials and old broken/worn out or defaced articles by means of door to door visits”.

A collector will need a licence to buy or sell any scrap metal collected.  Even if the material is provided free of charge, a licence is required in order to sell it on.

A Scrap Metal Collectors Licence will cover any employees working for that business.  If they are not employed directly by that collector's business and are self-employed, they will need their own Scrap Metal Collectors Licence even if they are collecting metal from the same van as a person who has a Scrap Metal Collectors licence.

What is classed as scrap metal?

Scrap Metal is defined as: 'any old waste or discarded metal or metallic material and any product article or assembly which is made from, or contains, metal and is broken/worn out or regarded by its last holder as having reached the end of its useful life'.

The only exemption to this is gold, silver, and alloy which is 2% or more by weight attributable gold or silver.

How do I apply for or renew a scrap metal dealers licence?

You will need to complete the application form and pay the fee.

Along with this application form you must submit all supporting documentation (applications without all supporting documents will not be accepted):

• Basic Criminal record, no older than three months old on the date of application, this can be obtained from Gov.uk. You will need to contact them directly to obtain this.
• Plan of the site showing the area to be licensed - where the scrap metal business will be taking place (Scrap Metal Site Licence only)

Will I be granted my scrap metal dealers licence?

The Council can consider any information it deems relevant to assess the applicant's suitability to be issued a scrap metal dealers licence.

This may include:

• The Criminal Records Check (CRB) - relevant convictions of the operator or site manager.
• If the applicant has been refused, or had revoked, a Scrap Metal Dealers Licence.
• If the applicant has been refused a relevant permit or registration.