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UK Wide Metal Recycling

Commercial Metal Waste Collection & Recycling

We can arrange commercial scrap metal collection across the UK for businesses producing cans, tins, manufacturing offcuts, swarf, pipework, machinery parts and other metal waste. We provide suitable bins, skips and larger containers, with scheduled collections arranged through registered waste carriers.

Tell us what metals your business produces, the volume and whether they are clean, mixed or contaminated with oils or other materials. We’ll confirm the right container and collection frequency, and advise whether separated metal could qualify for a recycling rebate.

Suitable scrap metal is transferred to authorised recycling facilities, with the relevant waste transfer paperwork provided for the collection.

16,835
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Get a free scrap metal collection quote

  • Free quote within 1 hour
  • Scrap metal assessed
  • FREE skips, bins and delivery
  • Collections across the UK
FREE bins & skips
Free Duty-of-Care certificate
Get 1 month’s FREE collections
Excellent customer care
Compliance support
Nationwide UK coverage
Free quote within 1 hour

Our metal waste collection process

  1. Request your free quote

    We’ll price the collection based on the type and grade of metal, weight or volume, container requirements, site access and collection frequency.

  2. Free metal waste bins delivered

    We’ll confirm the container based on the type, weight and volume of scrap metal you produce.

  3. Safe storage onsite

    Keep scrap metal in the agreed bin, skip or container and within its weight limit. Separate higher-value grades and contaminated metal where advised.

  4. We collect and recycle

    Registered carriers collect the metal waste on the agreed day and take it to an authorised recycling facility

Get a quote now

Why use Business Waste Ltd for metal waste collections?

Common Waste Metal Challenges

  • Overflowing metal bins disrupt operations
  • Metal theft risk if stored unsecured
  • Landfill disposal wastes valuable materials
  • Poor storage or missing paperwork can cause problems if your waste is checked

What Business Waste Ltd Provides

  • Regular or scheduled UK collections
  • Bins, skips and bulk containers based on metal type and weight
  • Separate collection options for higher-value metal grades
  • Waste transfer paperwork and authorised recycling routes

Most metal waste can be recycled when it’s separated properly and not contaminated. Our team will guide your staff on correct practices.

Bespoke metal waste disposal for every sector

Sectors we serve

  • Fabrication and engineering: offcuts, swarf, sheet metal, rejected components
  • Construction: steel sections, rebar, copper pipe, aluminium frames
  • Automotive and aerospace: body panels, parts and suitable workshop scrap
  • Retail and hospitality: shelving, fixtures, metal furniture, cans and catering equipment
  • Commercial kitchens: food cans, foil, trays and end-of-life metal equipment
  • Manufacturing: production offcuts, rejects, components and machining waste

We’ll match the bin, skip or container to the type of metal you produce, how heavy it is, and how often it needs collecting. We can also advise where metal rebates may be available, as separated, clean metal can have a higher rebate value than mixed or contaminated scrap.

Metal types we collect

Ferrous metals (iron, steel, mild steel, cast iron, stainless steel): Generated by construction, manufacturing, engineering, and demolition. Collected in skips, RELs, or roll-off containers depending on volume.

Non-ferrous metals (aluminium, copper, brass, bronze, lead, zinc, tin): Higher recyclable value than ferrous. Often eligible for rebate depending on grade and purity. Best collected separately from ferrous to maximise value.

Swarf and machining waste: Metal chips, turnings, and filings from CNC machining, milling, turning, and grinding. Ferrous and non-ferrous swarf collected separately. Coolant-saturated swarf may require specialist treatment; our team can advise on this.

Mixed metals: Mixed ferrous and non-ferrous scrap from manufacturing or construction. Collected in skips, with value typically lower than segregated streams.

Construction and demolition metal: Structural steel, copper pipe, aluminium windows, lead flashings, reinforcing bar (rebar). Bulk skip or roll-off collection available.

Electrical and electronic metal waste: Metal components from WEEE (cables, motors, transformers). For more information, see our dedicated WEEE recycling page.

Swarf and machining waste collection for manufacturers

Swarf can be categorised as the metal chips, turnings, and filings produced by CNC machining, milling, turning, drilling, and grinding operations.

It’s a major waste stream for engineering and manufacturing businesses. Business Waste Ltd provides dedicated swarf collection services for manufacturers across the UK, with chip bins and swarf skips supplied in appropriate sizes.

Keep ferrous and non-ferrous swarf separate where possible, particularly where you produce regular clean volumes. This can preserve recycling quality and improve potential rebate value.

Swarf containing cutting oil, coolant or other contamination may need a separate collection route. Tell us what fluid is present and whether the material is drained before storage.

Metal waste bins

Store metals securely and separate from other waste streams to maximise recycling quality and avoid contamination. Metal is dense, so container weight limits are just as important as volume when choosing a container for your site.

View all bins

  • 240L Wheelie Bins

    Suitable for lighter metal items only where the expected weight remains within the collection limit.

    Small wheelie bin

  • 660L Wheelie Bins

    Suitable for larger quantities of lightweight metal packaging and small components if the collection weight limit allows.

    wheelie bin icon

  • 1100L Wheelie Bins

    Best suited to high volumes of lighter metal rather than dense engineering scrap.

    wheelie bin icon
metal waste

Skips & Large Containers For Metal Waste

Skips and larger containers suit bulky, dense or high-volume scrap that would exceed ordinary wheelie-bin capacities.

View our skips

Contact us today for a fast and free metal waste disposal quote

Get a quote

Read Our Customer Reviews

Business Waste Ltd

4.6 Star Rated (218 Google reviews)

5 Star Rating

Efficient communication

We have worked alongside Business Waste for quite a few months now, and their efficiency with communication and resolving queries is great. Allie especially is a pleasure to liaise with. Great company from a B2B perspective

Flo Bolton-Smith

5 Star Rating

The real definition of service

The service received was simply outstanding. Business Waste gave good advice and a demonstration of a willingness to help and get me a solution.

Gregory Harrand

5 Star Rating

Great company

Great company to deal with, special thanks to Danielle who is always on the ball and sort any issues out instantly with proactive involvement with follow up phone calls and emails. I would recommend her to be the next PM to get things done, oh and as a company to deal with all the waste needs for your business.

Top Deals Online

5 Star Rating

Excellent service set up process

I was impressed by the speed of setting up the service. I made a single phone call to Business Waste and all the necessary paperwork was done efficiently.

Yahya Saeed

Trusted by 30,000+ UK Businesses

Metal waste compliance and paperwork

Work with us and you’ll receive:

  • Registered waste carriers and secure transport
  • Waste transfer notes for non-hazardous loads, with records kept for two years
  • Storage and segregation guidance for your team

Scrap metal collection rules in England and Wales

In England and Wales, businesses operating as scrap metal dealers must hold the appropriate licence under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. Dealers must verify the seller’s identity, keep transaction records and cannot buy scrap metal using cash. Payment must use an approved traceable method such as bank transfer or a non-transferable cheque.

Separate waste-carrier and Duty of Care requirements also apply to the transfer and transport of waste. Requirements differ elsewhere in the UK, so we always use collection routes authorised for the area where your site is based.

Read our policies and compliance documents
man in scrap metal yard.
  • Small wheelie bin
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  • METAL waste icon
    Metal recycling
  • COMMERCIAL WASTE
    Bespoke quote
  • COMPOSITE WASTE
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  • business waste icon
    1 month’s free collections
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Get a fast and free quote

Get a fast FREE quote for metal waste collection

  • Free quote within 1 hour
  • Scrap metal assessed
  • FREE skips, bins and delivery
  • Collections across the UK

Metal waste disposal FAQs

  • bin shapes icon What is metal waste?

    Metal waste is usually made mostly from metal, such as swarf, offcuts, cans, tools, pipework, fixings or metal components

    Explore more about metal waste in our comprehensive scrap metal guide.

  • bin shapes icon What happens to scrap metal after collection?

    Metal waste is usually sorted by type, then shredded, melted and turned into new metal products at specialist facilities.

  • bin shapes icon What bins should metal waste go in?

    Metal must be separated in designated bins or skips to prevent contamination and ensure full recycling. We provide these free of charge.

  • bin shapes icon How much metal waste is produced each year in the UK?

    The UK generates millions of tonnes of metal waste annually. Much of this is from manufacturing and engineering. Almost all of it can be recycled when handled correctly.

  • bin shapes icon Can my business get paid for scrap metal?

    Yes, in some cases. Businesses producing significant volumes of recyclable metal, particularly non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, copper, brass, and stainless steel, may be eligible for a rebate based on metal type, purity, and market prices.

    Business Waste Ltd assesses rebate potential when arranging collection. Visit our metal recycling rebates page or ask us when you request a quote.

  • bin shapes icon What is the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metal waste?

    Ferrous metals (iron, steel, cast iron) are magnetic and are the most common commercial metal waste stream.

    Non-ferrous metals (aluminium, copper, brass, lead, zinc, stainless steel) are non-magnetic and typically have a higher recyclable value.

    Keeping these streams separate during collection usually increases rebate potential and ensures the correct recycling route.

  • bin shapes icon How do businesses dispose of swarf?

    Swarf (metal machining waste) must be collected by a licensed waste carrier and should be separated by metal type where possible (ferrous swarf separate from aluminium or copper swarf etc).

    Swarf contaminated with coolant fluid may be classified as hazardous waste and require specialist disposal.

    Business Waste Ltd provides chip bins and swarf skips for manufacturers to ensure regular scheduled collections run smoothly.

Nationwide metal waste disposal in the UK

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Published 6th April 2022 by Mark Hall. Last modified 10th September 2026