Scrap Metal Licensing

The Government has introduced new legislation in which existing scrap metal legislation will be repealed and a new Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 will be introduced nationally from 1 December 2013. The new legislation places the requirement on current Scrap Metal Dealers to obtain a Licence (instead of a registration) to operate as a Scrap Metal Dealer and the Licence will last for 3 years. Licences will be available for Site (premises) (Word doc) [578KB] (opens new window) and Mobile (itinerant) Collectors (Word doc) [556KB] (opens new window) .

View a list of our current licensed scrap metal collectors (PDF) [77KB] (opens new window) .

Under the new Act (Section 21) a person carries on business as a scrap metal dealer if the person:

Carries on business which consists wholly or partly in buying or selling scrap metal, whether or not the metal is sold in the form in which it was bought, or
Carries on business as a motor salvage operator.

Site Licence (premises)

A Site Licence from Gateshead Council will authorise an Applicant to operate a business as a Scrap Metal Dealer within the Borough of Gateshead area only. A site manager must be named for each site and the Licence will authorise him/her to operate from those sites as a Scrap Metal Dealer, including transporting scrap metal to and from those sites from any local area. A Motor Salvage Operator will need to obtain a Site Licence.

It is important that scrap metal dealers only deal with properly licensed persons, and they are able to demonstrate through proper record keeping that they have complied with this obligation, otherwise they may be committing an offence.

Site Licence application form (Word doc) [578KB] (opens new window)

Collector Licence (Itinerant)

A Collector Licence from Gateshead Council will authorise an applicant to operate as a mobile collector of scrap metal (commercial and domestic) in the Borough of Gateshead area only. Please note that a Collector's Licence does not permit a collector to operate from any other local authority area. A separate licence must be obtained from each local authority area in which an individual wishes to collect.

Please note that Section 2(9) of the of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 states:

'A person may hold more than one licence issued by different local authorities but may not hold more than one licence by any one authority.'

The following businesses will need to comply with the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 by 1 December 2013:

Scrap Metal Dealers who operate from a Site in the Borough of Gateshead and do not collect scrap metal.
Scrap Metal Dealers who act as Mobile (Itinerant) Collectors but do not operate from a Site but collect scrap metal within the Borough of Gateshead.
Motor Salvage Operators who operate from a Site in the Borough of Gateshead.
All other businesses who buy or sell scrap metal in the Borough of Gateshead during the course of their business in Gateshead. However, this does not include businesses who buy or sell scrap metal which is incidental to the operation of their business.

Collector Licence application form (Word doc) [556KB] (opens new window)

What to do next - Site Licence

1. Application Form

Complete a Site Licence application form (Word doc) [578KB] (opens new window) and submit it to the Council.

2. Criminal Record Check

As part of the application process Gateshead Council must be satisfied that an applicant is a suitable person/partnership/company to be issued with a Scrap Metal Dealer Site Licence and this process will involve a Basic Criminal Records Check. An applicant, and other persons who may include a site manager, business partner, director, shadow director, company secretary, will therefore need to obtain a Basic Criminal Record Disclosure Certificate (opens new window) and submit it to the Council with your application. As part of the suitability checking process consultation may also be undertaken with other Local Authorities, Environment Agency, Trading Standards, Planning Authority, Information Commissioner's Office, Security Industry Authority, and Northumbria Police.

3. Fee

A fee of £424.70 must be paid at the time of making an application for a Site Licence. A further fee maybe payable during the 3 year duration of the licence if any changes are made.

What to do Next - Collector Licence

1. Application Form

Complete a Collector Licence application form (Word doc) [556KB] (opens new window) and submit it to the Council.

Please be aware that if a collector is assisted by any person(s) in the collection of scrap metal then this person(s) must also have a Scrap Metal Collector Licence. The only circumstance in which they will not be required to have a Licence is if this person(s) is directly employed by a holder of a Collector Licence. Should a person be stopped by Police and/or Licensing Officers whilst in the process of collecting/transporting scrap metal each person (in or around the vehicle) will be asked to show their Collector Licence and/or proof of employment (for example, pay slips etc). Should this information not be provided then legal action will be taken under Section 10(5) of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.

2. Criminal Record Check

As part of the application process Gateshead Council must be satisfied that an applicant is a suitable person/company to be issued with a Scrap Metal Dealer Collector Licence and this process will involve a Basic Criminal Records Check. An applicant will therefore need to obtain obtain a Basic Criminal Record Disclosure Certificate (opens new window) and submit it to the Council with the application. As part of the suitability checking process consultation may also be undertaken with other Local Authorities, Environment Agency, Trading Standards, Planning Authority, Information Commissioner's Office, Security Industry Authority, and Northumbria Police.

3. Fee

A fee of £174.70 must be paid at the time of making the application for a Collector Licence. A further fee maybe payable during the 3 year duration of the licence if any changes are made.

4. Passport photos and Driver's Licence

An applicant must provide two passport photos with their application and a copy of their current DVLA driver's licence. If they do not have a DVLA driver's licence then they must advise which Scrap Metal Licence Holder (and vehicle) they will be working with.

5. Vehicle Details

An applicant must provide a copy their vehicle's V5 (log book) that will be used for scrap metal collection. If they do not have a vehicle then they will need to advise which vehicle (and Scrap Metal Licence Holder) they intend to work from.

If an applicant requires any further information they should contact the Licensing Section on 0191 433 4741.