Scrap Metal Dealer Registration

Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964, any person carrying on the business of a scrap metal dealer must be registered with the Council.

A scrap metal dealer is defined as any person who carries on a business that consists wholly or partly of buying and selling scrap metal, whether it is sold in the form it was bought or otherwise. Failing to register is a criminal offence, for which the maximum penalty upon summary conviction is £1,000.

The purpose of the Act is to regulate the activities of scrap metal dealers, in order to prevent stolen metal being bought or sold and to assist the police in investigating such offences when they occur. In conjunction with the Duty of Care with regard to waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it also seeks to protect our environment.

Prescribed Records

Every scrap metal dealer must keep, at each place occupied by him as a scrap metal store, a book detailing all scrap metal received at that place and all scrap metal either processed at, or dispatched from that place. Two books may be kept where the metal processed and or dispatched from a place is not received at that place. Entries must be made immediately upon receipt, processing or despatch and books containing records must be kept for two years following the last entry.

The details to be kept for scrap metal received are:

• The description and weight of the metal, and
• The date and time of receipt of the metal, and
• If the metal is received from another person, then the name and address of that person, and
• The price of the metal if it has been ascertained at the time the entry is made in the book, and
• If no price has been ascertained, the estimated value of the scrap metal, and
• The registration mark of any mechanically propelled vehicle used to deliver the scrap metal.

The details to be kept for scrap metal processed or dispatched are:

• The description and weight of the metal, and
• The date of processing or dispatch, and in the case of processing, the process applied, and
• Where scrap metal is dispatched for sale or exchange, the name and address of the person to whom it is sold or with whom it is exchanged and the consideration for which it is sold or exchanged, and
• Where scrap metal is despatched or processed other than for sale or exchange, its estimated value before being dispatched or exchanged.

Itinerant Collectors

An itinerant collector is a person regularly engaged in collecting waste materials, and old, broken, worn out or defaced articles, by means of visits from house to house. Where a person satisfies the Council that they carry on the business of a scrap metal dealer as part of the business of an itinerant collector, the Council may, after consulting with the Chief Constable, make an Order requiring that on the sale of any scrap metal he shall obtain from the purchaser a receipt showing the weight of the metal and the aggregate price at which it was sold and shall keep such receipts for a period of two years. No other records need then be kept.

Offences

• Any person failing to register a scrap metal business or to notify the Council of alterations in the appropriate particulars shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000.
• Any person failing to notify the Council that a business has ceased shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £200.
• Any person failing to keep the proper prescribed records shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000.
• Any person acquiring scrap metal from a person under the age of sixteen shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £200.
• Any person who obstructs the entry of an Environmental Health Officer or Police Constable, or who fails to produce to them any prescribed record shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £200.
• Any person who, on selling scrap metal to a dealer, gives the dealer a false name or false address shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £200.

Where a person is convicted of failing to register or failing to keep prescribed records, the Court may make an Order imposing restrictions on the dealer for a period not exceeding two years.

Noise from Scrap Metal Collectors

Scrap metal collectors should not use a loudspeaker to advertise their trade or bisiness. Please refer to the setion on noise pollution regarding the reporting of a noise nuisance ro a scrap metal dealer.

Contact Details

Anyone operating such a business must contact the Council in order to apply to be added to the register.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Environmental Crime Unit
Council House
Solihull
West Midlands
B91 3QT

Telephone: 0121 704 8369

Email: environmentalhealth@solihull.gov.uk