Scrap metal dealer licence

To run a scrap metal business, you must be licensed.

There are 2 types of licence which are:

  • a site licence - this allows you to buy and sell scrap metal from any licensed site or multiple sites within our area
  • a mobile collector’s licence - this allows you to travel within our area to collect scrap, but you cannot take this metal back to a site that you run within our area to sell it

You cannot hold a site licence and a collector’s licence for the same area, but you can hold one type of licence with us and then the other type with another council.

As a scrap metal dealer, you must not:

  • receive scrap metal from a person without verifying their full name and address
  • buy scrap metal for cash

You must:

  • display your licence so its accessible to the public
    •  a site licence must be in a prominent place accessible to the public at each site listed in the licence
    • a mobile collector’s licence must be on any vehicle that you use for scrap metal collection and the licence must be visible from outside the vehicle
  • keep accurate records of any metal received including:
    • the description of the metal, including its type, form, condition, weight, any owners’ marks or other distinguishing features
    • the date and time of its receipt
    • the registration details of any vehicle involved in the delivery of any scrap metal
    • the full name and address of the person who makes the payment on behalf of the scrap metal dealer
    • a copy of any document used to verify the identity of the person who sold the metal
    • a copy of the cheque or receipt issued in paying for the metal
  • keep accurate records of any scrap metal you dispose of including:
    • the date and time of the transaction
    • the full name and address of the person who you disposed the scrap metal to
    • a description including type, form and weight (site licence holders only)
    • if payment is made (by sale or exchange), the price or other consideration received (site licence holders only)
  • keep your records for 3 years and allow either our staff or the police to inspect your premises and records if asked

Site licence

For any sites set up after 1 November 1990 you need to have been granted the relevant planning permission before you can apply for a site licence.

Apply for a scrap metal site licence

Before you apply you will need the following:

  • credit or debit card for payment

  • details of any other scrap metal licences you have been issued within the last 3 years

  • details of any relevant environmental permit or exemption

  • your waste carrier’s registration number (if applicable)

  • your bank account number that you will use for payments to suppliers

  • information on any relevant convictions or enforcement activity that has been undertaken against you

  • a DBS certificate which is less than a month old for all site managers, directors, company secretaries, shadow directors and partners

If you do not already have a DBS then you’ll find instructions on how to apply for one on the request a basic DBS check pages.

You must tell us within 28 days if you change your trading name or no longer wish to continue business as a scrap metal dealer.

You’ll need to renew your licence every 3 years.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select scrap metal.
  5. Select scrap metal dealer site.
  6. Select application for a scrap metal dealers’ site.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for a scrap metal site licence

 

Renew a scrap metal site licence

From 1 April 2022 you will need to meet the new tax check rules set out by HMRC. No licence will be issued without the check code being submitted within your application. More guidance can be found on gov.uk.

You’ll need to apply for your renewal 14 days before your existing licence expires due to processing times.

Before you apply you will need the following:

  • credit or debit card for payment
  • details of any other scrap metal licences you have been issued within the last 3 years
  • details of any relevant environmental permit or exemption
  • your waste carrier’s registration number
  • your bank account number that you will use for payments to suppliers
  • information on any relevant convictions or enforcement activity that has been undertaken against you
  • a DBS certificate which is less than a month old for all site managers, directors, company secretaries, shadow directors and partners

If you do not already have a DBS then you’ll find instructions on how to apply for one on the request a basic DBS check pages.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select scrap metal.
  5. Select scrap metal dealer site.
  6. Select renewal application for a scrap metal dealers’ site.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Renew a scrap metal site licence

 

Vary a scrap metal dealer’s site licence

You can vary a scrap metal dealer’s site licence if you need to change:

  • from one type of application to the other
  • the name of the licensee (but it cannot transfer the licence to another person)
  • the sites listed
  • the site manager

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select scrap metal.
  5. Select scrap metal dealer site.
  6. Select application to vary a scrap metal dealers’ site.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Vary a scrap metal site licence

Collector’s licence

A collector’s licence allows you to make visits to premises to collect scrap metal.

You must display your collector’s licence for our area on your vehicle whenever you are working in our area.

Apply for a scrap metal collector’s licence

Before you apply you will need the following:

  • credit or debit card for payment
  • details of any other scrap metal licences you have been issued with, in the last 3 years
  • details of any relevant environmental permit or exemption
  • your waste carrier’s registration number (if applicable)
  • your bank account number that you will use for payments to suppliers
  • information on any relevant convictions or enforcement activity that has been undertaken against you
  • the address where you will store scrap (you must not buy or sell metal at this storage site)
  • a recent colour passport sized photograph which has been endorsed on the reverse with the words “I certify that this is a good likeness of..” and is signed by a responsible person, such as a teacher, police officer, bank official
  • a DBS certificate which is less than a month old

If you do not already have a DBS then you'll find instructions on how to apply for one on the request a basic DBS check pages.

You must tell the us within 28 days if you change your trading name or no longer wish to continue business as a scrap metal dealer.

You’ll need to renew your licence every 3 years.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select scrap metal.
  5. Select scrap metal dealer collector.
  6. Select application for a scrap metal collector’s licence.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for a scrap metal collector's licence

 

Renew a scrap metal collector’s licence

From 1 April 2022 you will need to meet the new tax check rules set out by HMRC. No licence will be issued without the check code being submitted within your application. More guidance can be found on gov.uk.

You’ll need to apply for your renewal 14 days before your existing licence expires due to processing times.

Before you apply you will need the following:

  • credit or debit card for payment
  • details of any other scrap metal licences you have been issued within the last 3 years
  • details of any relevant environmental permit or exemption
  • your waste carrier’s registration number
  • your bank account number that you will use for payments to suppliers
  • information on any relevant convictions or enforcement activity that has been undertaken against you
  • a DBS certificate which is less than a month old

If you do not already have a DBS then you’ll find instructions on how to apply for one on the request a basic DBS check pages.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select scrap metal.
  5. Select scrap metal dealer collector.
  6. Select renewal application for a scrap metal dealers collector licence.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Renew a scrap metal collector licence

Vary a scrap metal collector’s licence

You can vary a scrap metal collector’s licence if you need to change:

  • from one type of application to the other
  • the name of the licensee (but it cannot transfer the licence to another person)

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select scrap metal.
  5. Select scrap metal dealer collector.
  6. Select application to vary a scrap metal collector licence.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Vary a scrap metal collector's licence