You must have a scrap metal dealer’s licence before you can collect or deal in scrap metal. You might also require planning permission and a waste carrier’s licence.
Scrap metal includes aluminium, brass, copper, iron and steel. You do not need a scrap metal dealer’s licence to trade in precious metals such as gold or silver.
You need a licence if your business dismantles vehicles. You do not need one if scrap metal is ancillary to your main trade – for example if you are a plumber, electrician or mechanic.
Scrap metal dealers must keep records from whom and what they are collecting. They cannot buy metal for cash.
A site licence allows you to collect scrap metal by appointment only, but it does not allow you to store it. The licence covers the business property, not the location where the scrap metal is stored.
A collector’s licence permits you to go door to door asking to collect or buy metal without an appointment. You must display your licence in the vehicle you use to collect scrap metal. You must have a licence issued by us to operate in Cambridge, and it will not be valid outside the city.
Apply
To apply for a new or renewed licence, send us an application form and pay the relevant fee.
For your application to be considered valid the following points must be applied:
- the application must be fully completed
- a Basic DBS certificate, which is less than 3 months old, must be submitted with the application. To apply please visit Request a basic DBS check - GOV.UK
- a tax check code supplied
- if you do not satisfy any of these conditions your application will be returned
You can pay with a credit or debit card by phone. Please call us on 01223 457700 to do this.
Tax requirements
New tax requirements for applications, to certain licences, are being put in place by the Government. The tax check should only take a few minutes every few years and it's simple to confirm that someone is appropriately registered for tax.
Please note that existing licence holders will be required to complete a tax check from 4 April 2022 for renewal of the scrap metal licence.
The tax check can be completed on GOV.UK. Please visit Complete a tax check for a taxi, private hire or scrap metal licence - GOV.UK.
When the tax check is complete, a code will be issued. This code must be given to the council. The licence application or renewal will not be processed until the tax check is completed and the code provided.
Tax check codes expire after 120 days, so if you make a licence application for another licence after that time, you’ll need to carry out a new tax check for it.
Fees
- Site licence: £468
- Collector’s licence: £200
- Conversion from site licence to collector's licence: £57
- Conversion from collector’s licence to site licence: £405
- Addition of site: £468
- Removal of site: £57
- Change of site manager: £137
- Change of licensee name or status: £57
- Replacement of lost or damaged licence: £51
Licensing process
We will discuss your application with the Police, the Environment Agency, and other local authorities, and where relevant we will inspect your sites. We will try to complete your application with 40 days.
If we grant you a licence, you must provide two passport-sized photographs and produce either a driving licence or passport as proof of identity. You must tell us if you change your name or address.
You will be added to the Environment Agency’s register of scrap metal dealers. Your licence will be valid for three years, after which you must apply to renew it.
We can refuse your application if you have been convicted of a relevant offence, such as theft of metal. We can suspend or revoke your licence for the same reason. If we do this we will offer you a hearing at which you can appeal the decision.
