The Scrap Metal Dealers Bill has continued its progress through Parliament, having now passed through the Lords Committee Stage, reports UK scrap metal recycling specialist Collect and Recycle (https://www.collectandrecycle.com). It means that the Private Member’s Bill that was proposed by Richard Ottoway MP now simply requires a third reading in the Lords next month, before it is expected to receive Royal Assent in May for implementation in October.
We reported earlier this month on the news that as of 3rd December last year, it had been made illegal for scrap metal recycling customers and dealers to accept cash payments at yards. That was as a result of an amendment to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act, although itinerant scrap metal traders remain able to accept cash payments, pending the passage of the Scrap Metal Dealers Bill into law.
Well, that has now come much closer to becoming reality, with specialists in copper and aluminium recycling having responded positively to legislation that promises to toughen up licensing and enforcement in relation to metal theft, while closing several loopholes in the LASPO Act. British Metals Recycling Association director general Ian Hetherington said that it was “imperative that the Scrap Metal Dealers Bill is passed as quickly as possible to improve regulation in the metals recycling industry and metal theft.”
Hetherington added that legitimate businesses had remained vulnerable to reduced trade, job losses and closures as criminal activity had been allowed to continue. He said that an “unfair playing field” had been left by the present legislation exempting some metal traders, like motor vehicle salvage operators, from the recent alterations to the LASPO Act.
He concluded: “This poses a serious challenge to small metal recyclers who rely on the trade of householders and businesses that sell scrap items every day and will undoubtedly take their business to collectors who continue to pay cash. The Scrap Metal Dealers Bill hopes to eradicate these issues by closing off the loopholes and putting a robust regulatory framework in place to back it up.”
A possible delay to the Bill had been feared, after the Government attempted to appease several MPs who had wanted to add further amendments by proposing a ‘sunset clause’ that would have seen the Bill’s expiry in five years. But this amendment was rejected by Peers debating it on 18th January, who argued that it would “send the wrong signal” to those combating metal theft.
Collect and Recycle (https://www.collectandrecycle.com) welcomes the anticipated entrance of the Scrap Metal Dealers Bill into the statute book. We offer highly rated services in aluminium and copper recycling to a wide range of satisfied customers, always ensuring that they are in full compliance with current legislation. We are a fully licensed waste carrier.
