It is illegal to carry on business as a scrap metal dealer unless registered by the Council. A scrap metal dealer needs to be registered by the Council:
- if he occupies a scrap metal store in its area
- if he has a scrap metal dealing business address in its area
- if he lives in the area.
A registered scrap metal dealer must notify the local authority within 28 days if there is any alteration in those details supplied to the Council or if he ceases business as a scrap metal dealer. Registration lasts for three years.
A public register of the scrap metal dealers currently registered in Gwynedd can be inspected at our offices in Caernarfon (Penrallt), Pwllheli (Ffordd y Cob) and Dolgellau (Cae Penarlâg).
Registration
Application forms for registration are available here.
For more information, call 01766 771000.
Record of dealings
Every scrap metal dealer must keep the following records at each scrap metal store:
(a) All scrap metal received at that place, including:
- the description and weight of the scrap metal
- the date and time of the receipt of the scrap metal
- if the scrap metal is received from another person, the full name and address of that person
• the price, if any, payable in respect of the receipt of the scrap metal, if that price has been ascertained at the time when the entry is made. If there is no price payable, the estimated value of the scrap metal at the time when the entry is made. - in the case of scrap metal delivered in a vehicle, the registration number.
(b) All scrap metal either processed at that place or despatched from it, including:
- the description and weight of the scrap metal
- the date of dispatching the scrap metal, or if it was processed, the date of processing and the process applied
- in the case of scrap metal despatched on sale or exchange, the full name and address of the person who buys the scrap metal or with whom it is exchanged
- in the case of scrap metal processed or despatched otherwise than on sale or exchange, the value of the scrap metal immediately before its processing or despatch as estimated by the dealer.
Entries must be made immediately after receipt, processing or despatch and books kept must be retained for a period of two years from the last entry. No more than one book may be used for each type of record, i.e. (a) or (b) above.
An itinerant collector may apply to the Council for limited exemption from the requirement to keep records.
Where a scrap metal dealer does not have a scrap metal store and he does not have limited exemption from the requirements to keep records, the record keeping requirements as described above apply, except that the records should be kept at the usual place of scrap metal dealing business and the price and all other details should be entered as a soon as possible.
Rights of entry
At all reasonable times, any police officer has a right to inspect registered premises, any records kept at the premises and any scrap metal kept there.
An Officer of a local authority (duly authorised in writing) has the power of entry to ascertain if premises are being used as a scrap metal store contrary to Section 1 of the Act.
Offences
It is illegal:
- to fail to register the business or to notify the Council of alterations in the appropriate details. Maximum fine: £1,000.
- to fail to notify the Council that a dealer has ceased to carry on business as a scrap metal dealer. Maximum fine: £200.
- to fail to keep records of dealings as prescribed. Maximum fine: £1,000.
- to acquire scrap metal from a person under 16 years old. Maximum fine: £200.
- for anyone who is selling scrap metal to a dealer to give a false name or address. Maximum fine: £200.
- for any person to obstruct an authorised officer or fail to produce any book or document which such officer has a right to inspect. Maximum fine: £200.
Definitions
Itinerant collector: a person regularly engaged in collecting waste materials and old, broken, worn out or defaced articles, through house to house visits.
Scrap metal: old metal, metallic wastes and broken, worn out, defaced or partly manufactured articles made wholly or partly of metal. It also includes old, broken, worn out or defaced tooltips or dies made of materials commonly known as hard metal or of cemented or sintered metallic carbides.
Scrap metal store: a place where scrap metal is received or kept in the course of the business of a scrap metal dealer.
