Environmental compliance for construction sites
Your environmental obligations for construction sites including site waste management, environmental permits, dust control, and noise management.
Retail & Consumer Goods
Run a vehicle dismantler or salvage business
Dismantling, salvaging and scrapping vehicles is one of the most regulated parts of the motor trade. To depollute and scrap end-of-life vehicles you need an environmental permit and Authorised Treatment Facility status — only an ATF can issue the Certificate of Destruction — and to trade in scrap or salvage you need a scrap metal dealer licence.
UK-wide
On this page
UK-wide
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Breaking, dismantling and scrapping vehicles is a different business from selling or repairing them, with two operating gateways you must hold before you start: an environmental permit with Authorised Treatment Facility status, and a scrap metal dealer licence. The general waste duty of care in Run a compliant motor trade business applies on top of these.
Become an Authorised Treatment Facility
Depolluting, dismantling or scrapping end-of-life vehicles requires an environmental permit and Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) status. Only an ATF may issue a Certificate of Destruction, which allows the DVLA to scrap the vehicle record. Depollution must meet the ELV technical standards — fluids, batteries, airbags and tyres removed first. This is devolved: the Environment Agency in England, Natural Resources Wales, SEPA in Scotland and NIEA in Northern Ireland. For how this fits the wider waste-permitting picture, see which waste management rules apply.
Get a scrap metal dealer licence
Trading in salvaged parts, scrap metal or motor salvage needs a site or collector's licence from the local authority. You must verify and record the identity of everyone you buy from, and you may not buy scrap metal for cash. The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 applies in England and Wales; Scotland licenses metal dealers under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The same licence covers car, van and motorcycle salvage.
Producer-responsibility duties for end-of-life vehicles fall mainly on vehicle manufacturers and importers, not dismantlers — if that is your business, see vehicle manufacturer end-of-life and restricted substances.
Next steps
Make sure the cross-cutting duties for your business are in place — see Run a compliant motor trade business — then confirm everything with the motor trade compliance checklist.