Scrap metal licence

Anyone collecting, buying or selling scrap in Waltham Forest will require a scrap metal dealer licence from us.

Under the act, we must not issue a licence unless we're satisfied that the applicant is a suitable person to carry on business as a scrap metal dealer.

Where a partnership is involved, we need to assess the suitability of each partner. In the case of a company, this will involve assessing the directors, company secretary and any shadow director. As part of the new application process, the applicant must provide a Basic Disclosure Certificate for these individuals from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

• Application form for a scrap metal licence (Word file)
• Guidance notes (Word file)

Please note:

• Read the guidance notes provided
• Download and complete the application form. All relevant parts must be completed. We will not consider incomplete applications
• Provide basic disclosure certificates for every person listed on the application along with any other required documents (see guidance notes)
• Applications for a Collector's Licence must include a passport-size photograph of the applicant. A Collector's Licence will only be issued after photographic identification and proof of living at the address stated (such as utility bills) have been seen and verified by us
• As of 4 April 2022, there is a requirement to complete a tax check telling HMRC how you pay tax on earnings related to your scrap metal licence and provide us with evidence of the valid tax check. This can be done by visiting the HM Customs and Revenues webpage

The application along with the appropriate fee must be submitted in person or by post to:

Payments can be made online

Please note, under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, you must obtain a licence in order to carry on business as a scrap metal dealer. It is an offence to carry on a business as a scrap metal dealer without a licence. If not, you will be fined up to £5,000 if convicted.

Please contact us by calling 020 8496 3000 and ask for the licensing team to discuss:

• Licence holder redress
• Failed application redress
• Other redress - includes complaints about another aspect of the operation such as noise, pollution or public health

There are two new licences, which are both valid for three years from the date of issue.

Site licence

• A site licence will be required where a business is carried on as a scrap metal dealer at a premises
• A site manager will be required to be named for each site
• The licence holder 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

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 works in more than one local authority area, they'll nee a licence for each one they operate in

a) Carry on a business that consists wholly or partly in buying or selling scrap metal. This includes whether or not the metal is sold in the form in which it was brought, or

b) Carry on a business as a motor salvage operator (so far as that does not fall within paragraph (a).

For the purposes of (a), someone who manufactures articles is not regarded as selling scrap metal if that person sells scrap metal only as a by-product. This applies to either of these processes or as surplus materials are not required for manufacturing.

For the purposes of (b), a person carries on business as a motor salvage operator if the person carries on a business which consists:

a) Wholly or partly in 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;

b) Wholly or mainly in buying written-off vehicles and subsequently repairing and reselling them,

c) Wholly or mainly in buying or selling motor vehicles which are to be the subject (whether immediately or on a subsequent re-sale) of any of the activities mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b), or

d) Wholly or mainly activities falling within paragraphs (b) and (c).

A 'scrap metal dealer' is someone who carries on the business as a scrap metal dealer, whether or not authorised by a licence.

No. We will not automatically grant your registration. This is because it's in the public interest for us to process your application first before granting it. If you don't hear from us within 28 days of applying, please contact our licensing service.

The registered dealer must notify us of any changes in circumstances or if they stop being a scrap metal licence holder. We may charge a fee to make these changes. Please contact us for information.

The new regime was introduced to tackle the growth of metal theft offences. The act aims to raise standards across the scrap metal industry by:

• Requiring all people and businesses to complete an enhanced application process to obtain a scrap metal licence. Local authorities will have the power to turn down unsuitable applicants
• Giving local authorities the power to revoke a licence
• Requiring all sellers of metal to provide personal identification at the point of sale, which is then recorded by the scrap metal dealer
• Extending the offence of buying metal with cash to itinerant metal collectors
• New powers for the police and local authorities to enter and inspect sites
• Creating a central public register, hosted by the Environment Agency, of all individuals and businesses licensed as scrap metal dealers
• Widening the definition of a scrap metal dealer to include motor salvage operators

For a summary of scrap metal licence regulation, see the Office of Public Sector information website.