Yes, any collection and dealing with scrap metal requires an upper tier waste carriers licence in your country of operation. In the UK and Wales, you must also hold a scrap metal dealer licence under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act of 2013. This bill was drafted to deter vehicular theft.
These licences come in two forms. You can have a collector’s licence, which allows you to transport scrap metal. This will only be valid in your local authority. For example, a scrap metal dealer with a licence to operate in East Cheshire cannot drive to Kent to collect a consignment. You would need a separate licence for every area that you wish to operate within.
Alternatively, you can apply for a site licence. This licence will be issued to a single site manager, who will be permitted to transport scrap metal to and from the site, host it, and make financial deals involving the material – though, again, this activity will be restricted to the local area.
Anybody that wishes to work with scrap metal can apply for a collector’s licence or a site licence – not both. Each licence will be valid for 3 years at a time. A site licence will vary in cost, depending on your local authority, as every council sets its own price point. As a rule, expect to pay £450 or more for a site licence, and around £300 or more for a collector’s licence.