Apply for a scrap metal site licence

Anyone wishing to operate as a scrap metal dealer must obtain a licence in order to carry on business.

Scrap metal includes:

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

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.

A scrap metal dealer is:

a) a person wholly or partly buying or selling scrap metal (whether or not sold in the form it was bought); or

b) a person who carries on business as a motor salvage operator, namely:

i) recovering salvageable parts from motor vehicles for re-use or sale and selling the remainder of the vehicle for scrap

ii) buying written-off vehicles, repairing and reselling them

iii) buying or selling motor vehicles which are to be the subject of any of the activities mentioned in (i) or (ii)

iv) wholly or mainly in activities falling within paragraphs (b) and (c)

Selling of scrap metal as surplus materials or as a by-product of manufacturing articles is NOT regarded as scrap metal dealing.

There are two types of licence (each valid for three years)

Site Licence –authorises holder to carry on business at a site(s) identified in the licence

Requirements:

a) Proof of ID of applicant (DVLA licence card, or passport)

b) Passport size photo of site manager

c) Plan of the proposed site

d) Basic disclosure of criminal convictions valid for 3 months from date of issue Request a basic DBS check - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (from applicant, site manager, if a company - company directors, shadow directors, partners and company secretary)

e) From April 2022, for renewals you must complete a Tax Check with HMRC and provide the code to Licensing. For more information please go to: www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-a-tax-check-for-a-taxi-private-hire-or-scrap-metal-licence 

Scrap Site Licence Application

Collectors Licence – authorises holder to carry on business as a mobile collector

Requirements

a) Basic disclosure of criminal convictions valid for 3 months from date of issue Request a basic DBS check - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (from applicant, site manager, if a company - company directors, shadow directors, partners and company secretary)

b) Passport size photo of site manager. From April 2022, for renewals you must complete a Tax Check with HMRC and provide the code to Licensing. For more information please go to: www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-a-tax-check-for-a-taxi-private-hire-or-scrap-metal-licence

c) Waste carrier licence (this will be checked to ensure validity prior to issue of the Collector licence). If you do not have one please contact the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 or you can apply online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Scrap Collector Licence Application

To apply for a scrap metal site or collectors' licence, please email the licensing team at hcp.licensing@stoke.gov.uk.