Home » Waste Services » Commercial Recycling » Recycling Rebates » Metal Recycling Rebates
metal waste collection
UK Metal Rebates

Metal Recycling Rebates

Metal recycling rebates help your business sell scrap metal for value rather than paying to dispose of it. If you generate metal offcuts, damaged stock, maintenance scrap, or large volumes of aluminium cans, rebates can reduce disposal costs and offset collection charges. The cleaner and more consistent the load, the more likely you are to gain stronger returns.

At Business Waste, we make it simple. We help you store metal safely, arrange compliant collections, and route your material to licensed facilities so you can get the best outcome from metal rebates.

free bins icon.

Get a FREE quote

Get a fast FREE quote for metal rebates

  • Free quote within 1 hr
  • All types of metal
  • FREE bins and delivery
  • We cover all of the UK
Licensed scrap metal routes
Guaranteed Compliance
Support with segregation & storage
Nationwide UK Coverage
Free Duty of Care
Free Quote in 1hr

Selling Your Scrap Metal 
for Cash

If your business produces bulk metal waste, you may be able to sell it through a rebate service. Common examples include workshops, factories, construction sites, hospitality venues with high metal can waste, and facilities teams managing refurbishments.

Rebates are based on material type, grade, and weight. We help you put the right process in place so your metal is stored correctly, kept free from contamination, and collected efficiently. This is especially useful for larger sites where metal builds up quickly and storage space matters.

Get in touch
crushed and baled metal waste.

What Metal Qualifies for 
Recycling Rebates?

Metal rebates are not one-size-fits-all. Eligibility depends on the type of metal, how it’s stored, and how clean the load is. We can advise on what qualifies and what will deliver the best return.

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 can waste, including aluminium rebates for drinks cans

What affects rebate eligibility and value?

  • Cleanliness and dryness
  • Segregation by type (especially for non-ferrous metals)
  • 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.

Read Our Customer Reviews

Trusted by 30,000+ UK Businesses

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. Good advice and a demonstration of a willingness to help and get me a solution.

Jide Banwo

5 Star Rating

Exceptional service

I’ve been using Business Waste for our weekly rubbish collection, and I can’t recommend them highly enough! They are an exceptional, well-run, and organised company that truly understands the needs of their clients.

Gregory Harrand

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 and all the necessary paperwork was done efficiently.

Yahya Saeed

The Equipment and Container Setup for Selling Your Metal

The right equipment helps you store metal safely, reduce collections, and avoid contamination that lowers rebate value. We can supply containers nationwide with no rental fees. You only pay for collections.

View all bins & equipment

  • Skips

    Ideal for bulky scrap such as offcuts, sheets, and site metal, with easy loading and clear separation from other waste.

    industrial waste

  • RoRo Skips

    Ideal for high-volume waste such as construction rubble, mixed loads, and bulky materials, with easy loading and clear separation from other waste.

    industrial waste

  • Wheelie bins

    A good option for smaller, lighter metal streams such as tins, small components, or can waste in back-of-house areas.

    wheelie bin.

  • Front-End Loaders

    Suitable for high-volume sites where larger containers and fewer, planned collections fit the workflow.

    wheelie bin.

  • Rear-End Loaders

    Suitable for busy premises where quick, frequent collections and straightforward loading keep waste moving.

    wheelie bin.

  • Compactors

    Useful for high volume can waste or mixed light metals, where you need to reduce storage space and improve transport efficiency.

    packaging waste

How Metal Recycling Rebates Work

  1. Request a rebate quote

    Tell us what metal you have, estimated volumes, and your location. We’ll provide a free quote based on current routes and grades.

  2. We confirm eligibility and setup

    We recommend the right containers and collection plan, and advise on segregation to protect value.

  3. Store metal properly

    Keep metal separate from other waste and store it securely. Clean loads help achieve better grading and better returns.

  4. Collection, grading and weighing

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

Get a quote

Scrap Metal: 
The Kinds That Can Be Sold

Most businesses can sell a wide range of scrap metal, including:

Common scrap metal types

  • Steel, including sheets, beams, and fabrication offcuts
  • Iron, including cast and light iron items
  • Copper, including cable and pipework
  • Aluminium, including trays and drinks cans
  • Brass, including plumbing parts and fixtures
  • Lead, including weights and certain building materials
  • Tin and steel food cans where volumes are high

Some sites achieve better returns by separating ferrous and non-ferrous metals before collection.

crushed aluminium cans.

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.

Benefits of selling scrap metal

Selling scrap metal is a great way to recycle your waste and get paid for it. If your business produces any type of waste metal in bulk then a metal rebate offers a financial incentive and sustainable solution to get rid of it in a safe, legal, and responsible way. The main benefits of selling scrap metal are to:

  • Earn money for metal waste – get paid to sell metal that your business no longer needs, whether it’s offcuts from manufacturing or empty aluminium cans.
  • Reduce waste management costs – selling metal waste in bulk reduces how many waste collections you need and ensures it’s recycled, which avoids any landfill tax.
  • Benefit the environment – all metal waste is recycled and reused, which saves on the energy and resources required to create new metal products.
  • Ensure safe and legal metal disposal – we only work with licensed buyers of scrap metal so you can enjoy peace of mind that your metal is recycled responsibly.

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

Contact us

UK Scrap Metal Laws

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 was introduced in October 2013. It made it illegal for anyone to buy or sell scrap metal for cash. Instead, you must sell scrap metal and receive payment via crossed cheque, a prepaid card system, or an electronic transfer of funds.

These new scrap metal laws also made it a legal requirement for scrap metal dealers to verify the seller’s full name and address before buying any waste metal from them. This should be done by the seller presenting either of the following when selling metal scrap:

  • 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

Metal Recycling Rebates FAQs

  • metal waste 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.

  • metal waste 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.

  • metal waste 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.

  • metal waste Do you pay for scrap metal collections?

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

  • metal waste What metal types are most likely to qualify?

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

  • metal waste 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.

  • metal waste 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.

  • metal waste 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.

  • metal waste 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.

  • metal waste 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.

  • metal waste 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

Find your town:

And arrange your free bin and your collection

free bins icon.

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 10th February 2026