Council launches new scrap metal licensing scheme

Thanet District Council has introduced a new licensing scheme for scrap metal collectors in the district. Businesses that offer to collect scrap metal can now apply for special licence plates to display on the rear of their vehicles.

The plates confirm that the collector has gone through the process of obtaining a lawful scrap metal collector’s licence. To secure the licence, operators must pay a fee, undergo a DBS check and provide evidence that they have an Environment Agency permit to carry waste. 

The new scrap metal licence plates are orange, and feature a Thanet District Council logo and hologram to the left. The scrap metal collector’s information is featured, including the plate number, to the right. Residents should check that the vehicle registration details on the licence plate match those of the vehicle, and that the expiry date has not been passed. 

By choosing to book an authorised collector to collect and dispose of their waste metals, residents can be confident that the collector will dispose of it lawfully. 

Cllr Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said: “Introducing a licensing scheme is evidence of our determination to keep Thanet clean and prevent the rise of unlawful scrap disposal in the area. Simultaneously it provides formal recognition for businesses operating on the right side of the law. It also gives operators a simple way to demonstrate this directly to their customers. Residents who want to do the right thing will be able to do so more easily and with greater confidence. We see this as a positive step for all.” 

Collectors who do not display an official licence plate are collecting scrap unlawfully. 

Residents are advised that disposing of waste through unauthorised scrap metal collectors could result in a fine. Details of all licensed scrap metal collectors can be found on the council’s website.

Thanet-based scrap metal collectors can apply for a licence on the council’s website.