Safety & Regulations FAQs

Scrap metal sales in the UK are strictly regulated to protect the environment, ensure transparency, and prevent illegal activity, and it’s not governed by a single law.

Instead, several Acts and Regulations work together to ensure scrap metal is collected, transported, processed and recycled safely, legally and responsibly.

Each piece of legislation has a different purpose, from preventing metal theft and protecting the environment to ensuring safe working practices and the responsible treatment of end-of-life vehicles. 

Together, these regulations form the foundation of a responsible and sustainable scrap industry.

Scrap Local maintains procedures designed to meet applicable licensing, waste-management and payment requirements and works with appropriately licensed and registered partners.

Acts & regulations include: 

1. Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 
2. Environmental Protection Act 1990 
3. Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 
4. End-of-Life Vehicle Regulations 2003 
5. WEEE Regulations 2013 (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) 
6. Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 is the main piece of legislation governing the buying, selling and collection of scrap metal in England and Wales. 

It was introduced to tackle the growing problem of metal theft while improving accountability across the recycling industry.

Under the Act, anyone operating as a scrap metal dealer must hold a valid licence issued by their local authority. 

Dealers are also required to verify sellers’ identities, keep detailed records of every transaction, and make all payments using traceable methods such as bank transfer.

Cash payments for scrap metal are prohibited under the Act.

The legislation introduced two different licence types:

• Site Licence – for businesses operating from a fixed scrapyard or recycling facility.
• Collector’s Licence – for mobile collectors who travel to collect scrap metal but do not operate from a permanent site.

These requirements help ensure every transaction can be traced, making it much harder for stolen metal to enter the legitimate recycling market.

At Scrap Local, we only work with licensed scrap metal dealers and Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) that operate in accordance with the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, giving customers confidence that every transaction is legal, transparent and fully compliant.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 forms the foundation of waste management and environmental law in the UK.

Its purpose is to ensure that waste is handled, stored, transported and disposed of in a way that protects people, wildlife and the environment.

One of the most important parts of the Act for the scrap metal industry is the Duty of Care, which places legal responsibilities on anyone who produces, transports or manages waste.

Businesses handling scrap metal or end-of-life vehicles must take reasonable steps to ensure waste is managed responsibly from the moment it is collected until it reaches an authorised recycling facility.

This includes preventing pollution, keeping appropriate records and only transferring waste to authorised businesses.

The Act also gives regulators powers to investigate environmental offences and take enforcement action where waste is handled illegally or irresponsibly.

By working exclusively with licensed partners and Authorised Treatment Facilities, Scrap Local helps ensure every vehicle and scrap metal collection complies with the environmental standards established under the Environmental Protection Act.

The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 provide detailed rules on how waste should be managed throughout its entire lifecycle.

They build upon the Environmental Protection Act by setting out practical requirements for businesses that produce, transport or process waste.

One of the key principles introduced by these Regulations is the waste hierarchy, which encourages organisations to prioritise:

1. Preventing waste wherever possible.
2. Reusing materials.
3. Recycling waste.
4. Recovering energy from waste where appropriate.
5. Disposing of waste only as a last resort.

For the scrap metal and vehicle recycling industry, these Regulations help maximise recycling rates while ensuring hazardous materials are handled safely and responsibly.

Businesses transporting waste must also comply with registration requirements and ensure waste is transferred only to authorised organisations.

Scrap Local follows these principles by working with licensed recycling facilities that recover reusable parts, recycle valuable materials and minimise waste sent to landfill.

The End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulations 2003 were introduced to ensure that vehicles reaching the end of their useful life are recycled safely while reducing their environmental impact.

Under these Regulations, scrap vehicles must be treated at licensed Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs).

Before a vehicle is dismantled or crushed, hazardous substances such as engine oil, fuel, coolant, brake fluid, batteries and airbags must be removed safely through a process known as depollution.

The Regulations also encourage the reuse and recycling of vehicle components wherever possible, helping to conserve valuable raw materials and reduce landfill waste.

Once a vehicle has been permanently scrapped at an ATF, the facility can issue a Certificate of Destruction (CoD), confirming that the vehicle has been legally destroyed and notifying the DVLA that it has reached the end of its life.

Scrap Local works exclusively with approved ATFs, ensuring every vehicle is processed in accordance with the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulations and current environmental standards.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 govern the collection, treatment and recycling of electrical and electronic waste across the UK.

Many electrical products contain valuable materials that can be recovered alongside potentially hazardous substances such as lead, mercury or refrigerants.

The WEEE Regulations ensure these materials are removed and treated safely to protect both people and the environment.

Although these Regulations are most commonly associated with household electrical items, they can also apply to electrical components removed from vehicles or other scrap materials.

Licensed recycling facilities must process WEEE separately from general waste and ensure recyclable materials are recovered wherever possible.

Where appropriate, Scrap Local’s recycling partners work in accordance with WEEE requirements, helping maximise recycling while ensuring hazardous materials are handled responsibly.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is the primary piece of workplace health and safety legislation in Great Britain.

It places legal duties on employers to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors, visitors and anyone who may be affected by their work.

Within the scrap metal and vehicle recycling industry, this legislation helps ensure that potentially hazardous activities such as vehicle recovery, lifting heavy materials, operating machinery and handling sharp metals are carried out safely.

Employers are expected to provide suitable training, maintain safe working environments, supply appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and carry out risk assessments where necessary.

For customers, this means collections should be completed using trained personnel, appropriate lifting equipment and safe working practices that minimise risks to people and property.

Scrap Local only works with professional collection partners and Authorised Treatment Facilities that place safety at the centre of their operations, helping ensure every vehicle collection is completed responsibly and in line with current health and safety legislation.

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 provide the legal framework for permitting activities that could affect the environment, including the storage, treatment and recycling of waste.

Scrapyards, metal-recycling sites and Authorised Treatment Facilities may require an environmental permit specifying what waste they can accept and how it must be stored and treated.

Operating outside the conditions of a permit, or carrying out a regulated waste activity without the necessary authorisation, can lead to enforcement action.

For end-of-life vehicles, the environmental permit is a key part of what allows a facility to operate as an ATF.

Scrap metal regulations are enforced jointly by local councils, the Environment Agency, and police authorities.

Local councils are responsible for issuing and renewing scrap metal dealer licences.

The Environment Agency monitors compliance with waste management laws, such as the handling, storage, and transport of scrap metal.

Police and authorised local-authority officers have powers to inspect licensed sites and investigate suspected offences.

Local authorities may refuse, vary or revoke licences, while unlicensed sites can be subject to closure action. Criminal offences may be prosecuted through the courts.

Scrap Local ensures every collector and yard within our network is fully licensed, regularly verified, and operating within UK law to protect both customers and the wider industry.