Consumer and household scrap metal is accepted at our UK scrap metal yards.

If you are not a business, but an individual with household metal waste which you would like to recycle then we offer the following support and services:

• We DO accept individuals bringing scrap metal items to our sites
• We MAY accept individuals bringing certain waste electronics and electrical (WEEE) items to our sites; please contact your local site for clarification.
• We DON’T collect items from individuals if it is less than 3 tonnes – please contact your local site for clarification.
• We MAY in some circumstances collect from an individual IF your items weigh more than 3 tonnes; please contact your local site for clarification.

FAQ

Preventing Metal Theft

The Legal Facts of Cashless Trading

Cashless trading came into force in December 2012 as part of the implementation of the updated Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishing of Offenders Act, 2012.

The Act banned the use of cash in the trading of all scrap metal within England and Wales. It is now an offense to pay people in cash.

Note that Itinerant Collectors are not exempt from the cash ban, unless they have been granted an order under section 3.1 of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act by the Local Authority and the local Police Chief.

Vehicle dismantlers buying end-of-life vehicles (ELVs or scrap cars) for parts brokerage are still able to pay in cash.

Keep updated on cashless trading by visiting the BMRA website.

Operation Tornado

Operation Tornado is a scheme which requires anyone selling scrap metal to participating dealers to provide photographic proof of identity. The scheme was developed in partnership with the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA), the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Home Office, and Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland Police. Read more about Operation Tornado on the British Transport Police website.

The New Scrap Metal Dealers Act

The new Scrap Metal Dealers Act (SMDA) came into effect in Autumn 2013. At that time Itinerant Collectors and Vehicle Dismantlers will be wholly subject to the cash ban.

The new SMDA will also make the necessity for identification, at point of sale, a legal condition. The likelihood is the requirements for proof of identification will be very similar to those required, now, by Operation Tornado.

Sims is currently working to Operation Tornado standards and requires the following forms of identification:

• A valid Great Britain or Northern Ireland Photocard Driving License
• A valid U.K. or EEA state Passport and a utility bill (not mobile phone), bank or building society statement, credit or debit card statement, council tax demand letter or statement which is no more than 3 months old.

Or

What you will need

1. A bank account
2. Visa debit card – although Sims can offer cheques for payment
3. Identification, which can either be:

• A valid Great Britain or Northern Ireland Photocard Driving Licence OR
• A valid U.K. or EEA state Passport and a utility bill (not mobile phone), bank or building society statement, credit or debit card statement, council tax demand letter or statement which is no more than 3 months old.