Haulage firms warned of new scrap metal regs

Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operators in the metal recycling and motor salvage industry are being warned about the change of regulations in the new scrap metal dealers act by the traffic commissioner for the East of England.

The new rules, which came into force earlier this month (October 1 2013), mean that scrap metal dealers in England and Wales must now apply for a licence to trade from the relevant local authority, which can suspend or revoke the license if the regulations are breached.

Operators of HGVs carrying scrap metal also have to apply to the local traffic commissioner for a licence and to make sure they can produce evidence relating to purchases.

Local authority officers and the police will be able to inspect licensed dealers and sites, with public registers being maintained by the Environment Agency and National Resources Wales.

Authorities will begin enforcement of the new regulations from December 1 2013, but companies have until tomorrow (October 15) to apply for a temporary license for the interim period while full applications are processed.

Refused application

As a result, East of England traffic commissioner Richard Turfitt is warning HGV operators about the importance of record keeping. It follows his decision to refuse a vehicle dismantlers application to operate goods vehicles because of the owners previous conviction for handling a stolen HGV.

‘Traffic commissioners expect HGV licence holders to comply with all of the necessary requirements, whatever line of business they choose to operate in.’

Richard Turfitt, traffic commissioner for the East of England

Mr Turfitt claimed the applicant in question said he had no knowledge of any criminal activity associated with the vehicle. However, the applicant was unable to explain why he took the vehicle into his possession without obtaining the relevant paperwork on it or questioning where it came from.

During a public inquiry in Cambridge earlier last month, Mr Turfitt heard how the vehicle dismantler had been given a one year prison sentence, suspended for two years, after entering a guilty plea.

According to Mr Turfitt, the applicant suggested that transferring vehicles in the vehicle breaking industry without paperwork was not uncommon, but he later accepted that it was his responsibility to carry out the required checks.

Commenting on the public inquiry in Cambridge, Mr Turfitt suggested that a fresh application could be considered when the owners suspended sentence had expired.

Mr Turfitt said: I will also require him to demonstrate that he is equipped to carry out proper administration and oversight, given the circumstances of the conviction.

The commissioner added: Traffic commissioners expect HGV licence holders to comply with all of the necessary requirements, whatever line of business they choose to operate in. Failure to pay attention to basic administration can have serious consequences, as this case shows. Its a valuable lesson for all those in the scrap metal and motor salvage industries who are operating and trading HGVs.

The new ‘watershed’ regulations, which also include a ban on traders from paying in cash for metal and a requirement to increase record keeping, were welcomed by metal recyclers last week (see letsrecycle.com story).