Tennessee Scrap Metal Laws

Payment Restrictions:

Fingerprinting:

Video Recording:

Tag and Hold:

License Scanning:

Vehicle Descriptions:

Taking Photographs of Materials:

Taking Photographs of Customers Faces:

Notify Law Enforcement:

NMVTIS Reporting:

Legal Mandates

Updated January 2014

State Requirements

In order to sell scrap metal, sellers will be required to:

         ·            Present and allow a photocopy of a driver's license, military ID or state ID card;

         ·            Sign a statement indicating that they are the owner of or are authorized to sell the metal;

         ·            Sign a statement that they have not been convicted of metal theft;

         ·            Provide a right thumbprint to be kept on file.

Buyer’s must:

• Record vehicle license plate number of sellers vehicle used to transport scrap (include business name if a commercial vehicle)
• Keep a record of sellers name, address, phone number and date of sale
• All sales tickets must have date and time of the sale, as well as the name of the clerk completing the sale.
  • Must also show the weight, quantity and/or volume of the material
  • Sales tickets must show dollar amount paid to seller.
  • Sales tickets must be signed by the seller.  Seller will receive a copy of the receipt and buyer will retain a copy.

         ·            Buyer must report purchased vehicle information to NMVTIS

NOTE:  Please be aware of your local ordinances.  Many cities and counties have additional ordinances that may not be listed here.

Keep records, certifications, registrations, etc. on site for 3 years.

Scrap recyclers must maintain a record of all purchases for a minimum of three years and is subject to inspection by any law enforcement at any time.

All payments for copper or catalytic converters must be made by check and mailed to the home address of the seller.

It is unlawful to purchase materials from persons under the age of 18 years.

It is unlawful to purchase the following materials without express written proof that the seller is legally permitted to sell such items:  Scrap metal marked as belonging to a public utility, manhole covers, street light poles and fixtures, road and bridge guard rails, traffic or street signs or signals, water meter covers, any scrap metal visibly marked or painted with the name of the business, unused and undamaged historical markers, or grave markers and vases.

It is unlawful to purchase air conditioner coils or condensers from anyone who is not HVAC certified and legally permitted to sell such items.  Payment must be made by check and sent to the business address.

No recycler, scrap metal dealer, or scrap yard operator may purchase any metal beer keg, whether damaged or undamaged, except from the brewer or its authorized representative, if: (1) The keg is clearly marked as the property of a brewery manufacturer; or (2) The keg's identification markings have been made illegible

All scrap metal dealers and any locations used by the dealers to purchase, deal or engage in the scrap metal business must be registered with the Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Scrap Metals Registration Program. In the past, dealers were only required to have one registration, regardless of the number of locations they operated. This new law requires that all dealers register all locations with the Department.

Links to Other Important Information for Tennessee Salvage/Recycling

Auto-Parts Salvage/Recycling

·         Tires – http://tn.gov/environment/swm/tires

·         State EPA on scrap - http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/states/tn.html

·         State laws on scrap yards – http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/105/Chapter/PC0690.pdf

o   http://tn.gov/commerce/boards/scrap/documents/ScrapMetalChangesSB2895051012.pdf

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