Scrap metal dealer licence

You must hold either a site or mobile collector's licence, issued by the council if you want to deal in scrap metals.

What is the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013?

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 means that if you are collecting, buying or selling scrap in the Uttlesford district will require a scrap metal dealer licence issued by us.

Types of licence

A site licence

Will be required where a business is carried on as a scrap metal dealer at a premises whether or not metal is kept here.
A site manager will be required to be named for each site
The licensee will then be permitted to operate from that site as a scrap metal dealer including transporting to and from those sites from any local authority area.

A collector's licence

Authorises the licensee to operate as a mobile collector in the area of the issuing local authority, permitting them to collect scrap metal as appropriate
This includes commercial as well as domestic scrap metal
If a mobile collector operates within more than one local authority's district, a licence will be required for each authority that (s) he operates in.

How to apply

Under the Act we must not issue a licence unless we are satisfied that you are a suitable person to carry on business as a scrap metal dealer. In the case of a partnership this means assessing the suitability of each of the partners in the partnership, while in the case of a company it means assessing the suitability of any directors, company secretaries or shadow directors.

As part of the application process you will be required to provide a Basic Disclosure Certificate. This costs £25 and can be applied for online or by completing a form which is available from Disclosure Scotland.

You should apply for your Basic Disclosure now to ensure it is returned prior to October. A Basic Disclosure Certificate is only valid for 3 months from the date of issue, but can be used to apply to as many councils as you want within that time.

You must pay a licence fee and tell the us:

Your name, address, date of birth, telephone number and email address
The name, address and registered number of your company
The name, address and date of birth of each partner (if partnership)
Your proposed trading name
Address of any site in any council area you carry on, or propose to carry on, business as a scrap metal dealer
Details of any relevant environmental permit or registration
Details of any other scrap metal licence issued in the last 3 years
Details of the bank account that will be used to pay for scrap metal
Details of any conviction for a relevant offence or any relevant enforcement action
Address of each site to be identified in the licence
Name, address and date of birth of site manager named in the licence

Please note these licences do not replace the waste carrier's licence. To deal in and collect scrap in Uttlesford you will be required to hold a licence issued by us and a waste carriers licence that is issued by the Environment Agency.

Licence fees

All applications must be accompanied by the fee for the licence you are applying for.

Licensing fees and charges - scrap metal

Other things you need to know

Your trading name

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

Cash payments

Cash payments for metal remains unlawful and dealers will have to pay either by cheque or electronic means through a bank account. The dealer will have to keep records of each transaction which may be inspected by an authorised officer of the Council or police officer.

Record keeping

The Act states that a scrap metal dealer must keep records. Details of these records can be found in the sections 13-15 of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.