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UK Metal Rebates

Metal Recycling Rebates

Metal recycling rebates help businesses get money back for qualifying scrap metal instead of treating it as a disposal cost. This can include metal offcuts, damaged stock, maintenance scrap, steel, aluminium, copper, brass, iron, and high-volume can waste.

Business Waste Ltd helps you store metal safely, check what qualifies, and arrange scheduled collections through licensed routes. Rebate value depends on metal type, grade, weight, contamination, storage, and current market demand.

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When can a business sell scrap metal?

Businesses can sell scrap metal when it is produced by their own organisation and collected through a licensed route. Common examples include workshops, factories, construction sites, facilities teams, refurbishments, and hospitality venues with high volumes of aluminium cans.

Rebates are based on the type, grade, and weight of the metal. Clean, separated loads are easier to grade and usually have a better chance of achieving a stronger return.

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crushed and baled metal waste.

What metal needs to qualify for a rebate

Metal rebates are not one-size-fits-all. A clean load of separated aluminium, copper, brass, steel, or iron is usually easier to grade than mixed metal with plastic, wood, or general waste in it.

We’ll check what you produce, how much you have, and how it is stored before recommending the best collection setup.

Metals that commonly qualify for rebates

  • Ferrous metals such as steel and iron
  • Non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, copper, and brass
  • Mixed metal streams where grading can be done on-site or at the facility
  • High volume aluminium can waste

What affects rebate eligibility and value?

  • Cleanliness and dryness
  • Metal type and grade
  • Volume and consistency of the material
  • Storage method, including whether it’s loose, bagged, or contained
  • Presence of non-metal items such as plastics, wood, or general waste

If you’re unsure what your metal is worth, get in touch, and we’ll assess your setup and provide a free quote.

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Equipment that helps store scrap metal safely

Scrap metal can be heavy, awkward, and sharp. The right container keeps it separate from other waste, reduces handling, and makes scheduled collections easier to manage.

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  • Skips

    Useful for bulky scrap metal, offcuts, sheets, fixtures, and site metal.

    industrial waste

  • RoRo Skips

    Best for high-volume scrap metal from construction, manufacturing, refurbishments, or clear-outs.

    industrial waste

  • Wheelie bins

    Suitable for lighter metal streams such as tins, small components, or aluminium can waste.

    wheelie bin icon

  • Front-End Loaders

    Useful for regular high-volume metal waste where larger containers and planned collections fit the site.

    wheelie bin icon

  • Rear-End Loaders

    Suitable for busy sites that need frequent scheduled collections and simple loading.

    wheelie bin icon

  • Compactors

    Useful for high-volume cans or lighter mixed metals where reducing storage space matters.

    packaging waste

How metal recycling rebates work

  1. Request a metal rebate quote

    Tell us what metal you have, how much you produce, how it is stored, and where your site is based.

  2. We confirm eligibility and setup

    We review the metal type, likely grade, weight, contamination risk, storage, and whether you need skips, bins, loaders, or compactors.

  3. Store metal properly

    Keep metal separate from general waste, wood, plastic, rubble, and other materials. Clean, separated loads are easier to grade.

  4. Collection, grading and weighing

    Licensed carriers collect your metal on the agreed schedule. It is graded and weighed at the facility, then your rebate is paid or credited depending on the agreement.

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UK scrap metal laws

Scrap metal sales are regulated in the UK. Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, scrap metal dealers cannot pay for scrap metal in cash. Payments must be made by an approved traceable method, such as bank transfer or cheque.

Scrap metal dealers also need to verify the seller’s identity and hold the correct licence. This helps reduce metal theft and illegal scrap dealing.

  • A photocard driving licence (including your home address).
  • A passport and one of these supporting documents:
    • Utility bill (not a mobile phone bill)
    • Bank or building society statement
    • Debit or credit card statement
    • Council tax letter

As a business selling scrap metal, you should also ensure the individual or business you sell your waste to has a Scrap Metal Dealers Licence. These new scrap metal laws were introduced to clamp down on the theft of metal that’s then sold and bought illegally. It also helps reduce rogue scrap metal merchants operating illegally.

Read our metal recycling guide

Why sell scrap metal?

If your business produces regular scrap metal, rebates can help reduce disposal costs and make recycling more financially worthwhile. They also provide a clearer process for storing, separating, and removing metal safely.

The benefits:

  • Receive rebates for qualifying scrap metal
  • Reduce the cost of metal waste disposal
  • Keep valuable metal out of general waste
  • Store heavy or sharp materials more safely
  • Use licensed scrap metal recycling routes
  • Improve recycling records and reporting

Aluminium can recycling rebates

You can sell empty aluminium drinks cans for recycling and receive a rebate. The price of aluminium cans is based on the weight and volume of those that are recycled, as well as the company used and your location. Ensure all cans are clean and dry, and separated from other waste to eliminate contamination risks.

Most aluminium can buyers expect the cans to be baled or compacted. This makes managing them easier by condensing the waste and lowering transportation and fuel costs. All sorts of aluminium cans are eligible for rebates, including soft drinks, beer, and other types of cans.

Unsure about metal recycling rebates? Get in touch with our team for expert support.

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Metal Recycling Rebates FAQs

  • bin shapes icon How much money can you make selling scrap metal?

    How much money you can make selling scrap metal depends on the amount and type of waste metal you have. Certain types of scrap metal are more valuable than others, while many scrap metal buyers only accept minimum weights. The market value at the time of selling and your location impact the price too.

    You can only sell scrap metal that your business creates – not from any other company. To make money collecting and selling scrap metal from others you must apply for a licence to do so legally.

  • bin shapes icon Where can I sell scrap metal?

    You can sell scrap metal anywhere in the UK with Business Waste. Our nationwide network of licensed buyers of scrap metals offers the best prices and coverage to sell metal across the country. We work with local and national scrap metal buyers who provide legal, safe, and reliable recycling rebates for metal waste.

  • bin shapes icon Can anyone sell scrap metal in the UK?

    Anyone can sell scrap metal in the UK that they produced. You can only sell scrap metal from another business or household if you have a scrap metal dealer licence. Only registered scrap metal dealers can buy waste metal and it’s also illegal to sell scrap metal for cash in the UK.

  • bin shapes icon Do you pay for scrap metal collections?

    Yes, where the load qualifies for a rebate. The return depends on material type, grade, and weight.

  • bin shapes icon What metal types are most likely to qualify?

    Clean, consistent streams of steel, iron, aluminium, copper, and brass are most likely to qualify.

  • bin shapes icon Do I need to separate metals to get the best rebate?

    Often, yes. Separating non-ferrous metals can improve grading and increase the rebate value.

  • bin shapes icon Is there a minimum weight or volume for metal rebates?

    Most rebate routes work best for bulk quantities. We’ll advise based on your volumes and location.

  • bin shapes icon Can you supply a skip or RoRo for scrap metal?

    Yes. We can supply skips and RoRo containers suitable for high-volume metal storage and collections.

  • bin shapes icon How is scrap metal graded and weighed?

    Metal is checked for type, quality, and contamination, then weighed at the facility to confirm the final value.

  • bin shapes icon Cash vs credit, how does it work for rebates?

    Some rebates are paid as a direct return, while others are credited against waste services. We’ll confirm what applies with your quote.

  • bin shapes icon Is there UK-wide availability for your scrap metal rebates service?

    Yes. We arrange collections across the UK through our nationwide network.

Nationwide UK Metal Recycling Rebates

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Get a fast and free quote

Get a fast and free quote for metal rebates

  • Free quote within 1 hr
  • Any type of metal
  • FREE bins and delivery
  • We cover all of the UK

Published 22nd September 2023 by Mark Hall. Last modified 28th May 2026