Any person buying or selling scrap metal is a Scrap Metal Dealer and must hold a licence under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 (“The Act”) if they are acting in a business capacity.

 What is Scrap metal?

 a) any old, waste or discarded metal or metallic material

OR 

b) 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.

 Who needs a licence?

 Any person who carries on a business which consists of wholly or partly in buying or selling scrap metal;

Or is as a motor salvage operator:

 Who is a motor salvage operator?:

 Any person whose business is:

Wholly or partly recovering salvageable parts from motor vehicles for re-use or sale and subsequently selling or otherwise disposing of the rest of the vehicle for scrap; Or

 Wholly or mainly in buying written-off vehicles and subsequently repairing and reselling them.

 Types of Licence

There are two types of licence.

A site licence – this is for any premises where scrap metal is bought or sold in the course of business, whether or not the metal is stored there.

A Collectors licence  - this is for any person or business that collects scrap metal, whether or not that metal is collected from another business, a licensed site or scavenged. It also may include metal obtained as an ancillary matter by a business.

Applying for a Licence

You are required to submit an application along with the fee.  

You will need to submit a completed application form,  the appropriate fee and the other necessary documentation detailed below. You cannot start trading until you receive your licence.

Every person listed on the application form is required to submit a ‘Basic Disclosure Certificate’ from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). You can apply for this certificate at Disclosure and Barring Service  or if you need phone or face-to-face support to apply online, call the DBS helpline on 03000 200 190 or email customerservices@dbs.gsi.gov.uk

Also, everyone who is listed on the application form is required to submit two photographs (passport sized). One of these photographs must be endorsed on the back by a solicitor or notary, a person of standing in the community or any individual with a professional qualification. This person must complete a Verification of Signature document.

Anyone who carries out business as a scrap metal dealer without a licence may be liable on conviction to maximum fine of £5,000.

Please note these licences do not replace the Waste Carrier’s Licence. To collect scrap metal in Hertsmere you will be required to hold a licence issued by us and a Waste Carriers Licence that is issued by the Environment Agency.