Copper pipes from a bathroom refit. Aluminium window frames stacked in the garden after a replacement job. A boiler that’s been sitting there since the heating upgrade three years ago. Most of it has value. Most of it can be collected for free. What determines which is which — and how to make sure the person who comes to collect it is actually licensed to do so.
Is scrap metal collection free in London?
For most metals, yes. Licensed collectors recover their costs from the resale value of the metal, so collection itself costs you nothing. Whether that applies to what you have depends on what type of metal it is.
Non-ferrous metals — copper, brass, aluminium, lead, stainless steel — carry enough market value that collection is almost always free regardless of quantity. Ferrous metals like general steel and cast iron are lower in value per kilogram, so free collection typically requires a minimum volume. Roughly a van load in outer Home Counties areas; less in London boroughs where route density makes shorter trips viable. Small amounts of low-grade mixed ferrous may not justify a standalone trip.
At WasteWize, we collect copper, brass, aluminium, lead, stainless steel, and mixed non-ferrous metals free across London and the Home Counties. For general steel and ferrous loads, free collection applies when the volume works for the journey — if you’re not certain, call and describe what you have. Payment for higher-value metals goes directly to you by bank transfer. Not cash. We’ll come back to why that matters.
| Metal | Type | Free collection? | Value vs steel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | Non-ferrous | Yes | ~8–10× |
| Brass | Non-ferrous | Yes | ~5–7× |
| Aluminium | Non-ferrous | Yes | ~3–4× |
| Lead | Non-ferrous | Yes | ~3× |
| Stainless steel | Non-ferrous | Yes | ~2–3× |
| General steel / mild steel | Ferrous | Yes — minimum volume | Baseline |
| Cast iron | Ferrous | Yes — minimum volume | Similar to steel |
| Mixed / contaminated load | Mixed | Depends on composition | Describe before booking |
Commodity prices fluctuate. Ratios above are indicative, not fixed rates.
Which metals are worth the most?
The split that matters is ferrous versus non-ferrous. Ferrous metals contain iron, are magnetic, and include steel, cast iron, and most structural metals left over from construction. Non-ferrous metals — copper, brass, aluminium, lead — contain no iron, don’t rust, and fetch higher prices per kilogram at recycling facilities.
Copper sits at the top. Bare bright copper — clean, uncoated stripped wire or pipe — commands significantly more than copper still attached to insulation or fittings. The cleaner the metal, the more accurately a collector can price it and the better the rate you get.
If you have a mixed load, the non-ferrous content is what drives whether collection is free and whether you’re paid anything.
Do you need to sort your scrap before the collector arrives?
No. A full sort isn’t expected. But a rough separation — non-ferrous in one pile, steel in another — takes about ten minutes with a magnet and gives the collector enough information to quote accurately before they arrive.
The magnet test is reliable: if it sticks, it’s ferrous. If it doesn’t, you probably have something worth more.
For construction sites specifically, the useful thing is keeping metals away from mixed skips. Metal buried in rubble, timber, and plasterboard creates extra handling and reduces what a collector can offer. When we handle scrap metal collection in Uxbridge or scrap metal recycling in Thatcham from active sites, jobs where the metal is pulled to one side — even loosely — are faster, easier to assess, and simpler to price.
What actually happens to your scrap after collection?
It goes to a licensed facility. Authorised treatment facilities sort metal by type using electromagnets for ferrous and density or conductivity tests for non-ferrous, then shred, bale, and smelt it into raw material for manufacturers.
Steel from a London site ends up in new structural sections. Copper from plumbing jobs re-enters electrical and plumbing supply chains. Aluminium can be recycled indefinitely without any loss of quality. Steel production from scrap uses around 75% less energy than producing it from iron ore; aluminium recycling uses roughly 95% less.
Scrap metal doesn’t go to landfill. It’s one of the few waste categories where landfill disposal would be genuinely wasteful — the material is worth something.
How do you check if a collector is actually licensed?
Every collector operating in England must hold either a site licence or a collector’s licence issued by the local council for each borough they work in. One licence doesn’t cover everywhere — a collector licensed in Hillingdon isn’t automatically licensed to collect in Richmond or Slough.
The public register is easy to find: search “[your borough] scrap metal dealer register.” If the collector’s name or company isn’t there, don’t use them.
Before anyone collects from you, check two things: can they show a licence for your borough, and do they ask for your ID? Identity verification is a legal requirement under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. A collector who skips it isn’t compliant, whatever else they tell you.
We hold the relevant licences to operate scrap metal collection across Hillingdon and the wider London and Home Counties area. Our Environment Agency Licence is CBDU335711, verifiable on the EA public register.
Can you be paid cash for scrap metal?
No. It has been illegal since October 2013.
Section 12 of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 bans cash payments for scrap metal with no exemptions. All payments must go by crossed cheque or bank transfer, regardless of how much is involved.
The reason: before the Act, cash payments let stolen metal move through the supply chain without a trace. Church lead, railway copper, cable ripped from substations — metal theft was costing the UK economy an estimated £770 million a year. The cash ban closed the most obvious route.
If someone offers you cash, that tells you they’re either unlicensed or breaking the law. A Wiltshire collector was fined £3,000 for exactly this — collecting from residential addresses and trading the metal for cash, with no waste carrier registration and no scrap metal licence. If you accept such an offer, you have no proof of disposal for duty of care purposes, no payment protection, and no recourse if anything goes wrong.
Customers occasionally ask us about cash, usually because someone else offered it first. We pay by bank transfer, typically within 24 hours of collection. The paper trail benefits both sides.
Businesses: did your scrap obligations change in March 2025?
Yes, and most haven’t heard about it.
Since 31 March 2025, businesses in England must segregate core recyclable waste — including metals — from general waste for collection. Putting scrap metal into a general waste bin or mixed skip that goes to landfill is no longer legally compliant.
For contractors and construction firms, this formalises what responsible site management already looked like. For offices and commercial tenants, it means metals from fit-outs, equipment swaps, and maintenance jobs need to go through a licensed collection route rather than the general skip.
WasteWize serves over 500 commercial clients across London and the Home Counties. For businesses generating regular scrap volumes — whether through collections in Ruislip or along West Drayton scrap metal collection routes — a scheduled collection agreement is usually more practical than booking one-off jobs.
What a licensed collector won’t take
Scrap metal collection is regulated under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, which covers metals. It does not cover asbestos (requires a separate licensed removal contractor), fridges and freezers (WEEE regulations, different route), hazardous chemicals and oils, or non-metallic waste mixed into the load.
If your job includes metals alongside any of these, you either need a waste carrier with the right permits for each material type or separate collections. Tell us what the full load includes when you book and we’ll advise on what we can take and what needs a separate route.
FAQs — Scrap Metal Collection in London & the Home Counties
What is scrap metal collection and when do you need it? It’s the licensed removal of ferrous and non-ferrous metals from your property by a registered waste carrier or scrap metal dealer. You need it when disposing of metal from renovations, building work, equipment clearances, or any situation where metal waste can’t go into domestic recycling bins.
Does scrap metal collection work the same way across London and the Home Counties? The process is the same, but licensing is borough-specific. Collectors must hold a licence for each local authority area they work in. WasteWize holds the relevant licences across London and the Home Counties, covering Middlesex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Essex, and Hertfordshire.
How do I book a collection? Call or submit an enquiry online. Describe the metals you have, the rough quantity, and your postcode. For non-ferrous metals and standard volumes, collection can usually be arranged same-day or next-day. Larger commercial loads may need a site visit first.
How much does scrap metal collection cost? For non-ferrous metals and most ferrous loads of reasonable volume, collection is free. High-value metals may attract payment direct to you by bank transfer. Small quantities of low-grade ferrous in outer areas may involve a charge — ask when you enquire and we’ll be upfront about it.
Is WasteWize a licensed scrap metal dealer and registered waste carrier? Yes. WasteWize is registered with the Environment Agency as a waste carrier (EA Licence CBDU335711) and holds the relevant scrap metal dealer licences for the areas we operate in. We are SafeContractor accredited and have operated since 2018.
What should I do if someone offers to take my scrap for cash? Decline. Cash payments for scrap metal have been illegal since 2013. A collector offering cash is operating outside the law. You’d have no waste transfer documentation, no payment protection, and no recourse if the job goes wrong.
What metals can’t be collected through standard scrap collection? Asbestos, fridges and freezers, hazardous chemicals, radioactive materials, and non-metallic waste don’t fall under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act and require separate licensed disposal. If your load includes these, tell us upfront.
What legal risk does a business face for ignoring the March 2025 segregation rules? Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 duty of care, businesses must handle waste lawfully. Failing to segregate recyclable metals from general waste since March 2025 exposes businesses to enforcement action, fines, and potential personal liability for directors. A waste transfer note from a licensed collector is your evidence of compliance.
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Written by WasteWize Team · WasteWize London & Home Counties · Environment Agency Registered Waste Carrier · SafeContractor Accredited