1.How do I know if I need to register my scrap metal business?

Answer:

If your business purchases any regulated scrap metals, then you need to register your business. Regulated scrap metals include:

1. railroad track materials such as any materials, equipment and parts used in the construction, operation, protection and maintenance of a railroad;
2. copper materials, such as any copper wire, bars, rods or tubing, including copper wire or cable or coaxial cable of the type used by public utilities, common carriers or communication services providers, whether wireless or wire line, copper air conditioner evaporator coils or condensers, aluminum copper radiators not attached to a motor vehicle, or any combination of these;
3. aluminum materials such as any aluminum cable, bars, rods or tubing of the type used to construct utility, communication or broadcasting towers, aluminum utility wire and 4 aluminum irrigation pipes or tubing; however, this shall not include aluminum cans that have served their original economic purpose;
4. electrical, communications or utility brass, metal covers for service access and entrances to sewers and storm drains, metal bridge pilings, irrigation wiring and other metal property attached to or part of center pivots, grain bins, stainless steel sinks, catalytic converters not attached to a motor vehicle, metal beer kegs or metal syrup tanks or any recognizable part thereof generally used in the beverage industry unless the dealer possesses a bill of sale from a beverage manufacturer, beverage distributor or from a manufacturer of such tanks;
5. any bronze vase or marker, memorial, statue, plaque, or other bronze object used at a cemetery or other location where deceased persons are interred, entombed or memorialized unless the dealer possesses documentation from local law enforcement and from a cemetery authenticating the lawful source of such material;
6. manhole covers and other similar types of utility access covers, including storm drain covers, or any metal property clearly identified as belonging to a political subdivision of the state or a municipality, unless that metal property is purchased from the political subdivision, the municipal utility or the manufacturer of the metal. Any purchaser who purchases metal property in bulk shall be allowed twenty-four (24) hours to determine if any metal property prohibited by this subsection (F) is included in a bulk purchase. The purchaser shall notify law enforcement no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the purchase.
7. copper telecommunication wire in any form or any metal property clearly identified as belonging to a telecommunications company, unless that metal property is purchased from (i) an electrician or contractor to whom either a license has been issued by a municipality or county in this state or a current certificate of responsibility has been issued by the State Board of Public Contractors; or (ii) a person who holds a demolition permit issued by a municipality or county in this state;
8. copper telecommunication wire that has been burned to remove the insulation, unless the seller provides certification, on a form as issued by the Secretary of State and signed by a firefighter who is currently in compliance with the certification requirements of the Mississippi Fire Personnel Minimum Standards and Certification Board or a certified law enforcement officer, that the source of the copper telecommunication wire was from a building destroyed by fire. Metal property does not include ferrous materials not listed in the Act.

 

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2.How do I register?

Answer:

The link to electronic registration through LeadsOnline is available on the Scrap Metal home page under ‘Online Registration’ or you may contact our Office at 601-359-9055 for assistance.

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3.How long is registration effective?

Answer:

Registration is effective two (2) years from date of issue.

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4.What is the cost of registration?

Answer:

The registration fee for dealers is $500.00. The registration fee for processors is $2,000.00. All registrations must be done through the Secretary’s designee – LeadsOnline. Please use the link to LeadsOnline found on the Scrap Metal home page under ‘Online Registration’.

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5.What are the recordkeeping requirements of the Act?

Answer:

The Act requires that every scrap metal dealer keep an accurate and legible record including the following information for each transaction:

1. The name, address and age of the person from whom the metal property is purchased as obtained from the seller’s personal identification card;
   1. If a person other than the seller delivers the metal property to the purchaser, the purchaser shall enter the name, address, and age of the person who delivers the metal property, as obtained from the personal identification card of the person delivering the metal property. If the person delivering the metal property is the employee of the scrap metal dealer acting in his official capacity and at the direction of the scrap metal dealer, the purchaser is not required to enter the name, address, and age of the person who delivers the metal property.
   2. If the seller is a registered business entity, and a person other than the seller delivers the metal property to the purchaser, in addition to the information required by this paragraph (a), the purchaser shall enter the name, principal business address, state of incorporations or formation of the entity, the federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) of the entity, and the name and telephone number of a contact person for the seller.
2. The date and place of each acquisition of the metal property;
3. The weight, quantity or volume, and a general physical description of the type of metal property, such as wire, tubing, extrusions or casting, acquired in a purchase transaction;
4. The amount of consideration given in a purchase transaction for the metal property. If no consideration is given, a record of the origin of the regulated metal.
5. The vehicle license tag number, state of issue and the make and type of the vehicle used to deliver the metal property to the purchaser;
6. A signed statement from the person receiving consideration in the purchase transaction stating that he is the rightful owner of the metal property or is entitled to sell the metal property being sold;
7. A scanned copy or a photocopy of the personal identification card of the person receiving consideration or delivering the metal property in the purchase transaction; and
8. A photograph, videotape or similar likeness of the person receiving consideration or any person other than the seller who delivers the metal property to the purchaser in which the person’s facial features are clearly visible and in which the metal property the person is selling or delivering is clearly visible.

 

Such records shall be maintained by the scrap metal dealer or purchaser for not less than two (2) years from the date of the purchaser transaction.

 

 

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6.Are all my purchases subject to the recordkeeping requirements of the Act?

Answer:

No. Only purchases of regulated scrap metals are subject to the recordkeeping requirements. However, changes to the scrap metal law in 2022 now require that all purchases of regulated metals are subject to the recordkeeping requirements.

A copy of the scrap metal law and scrap metal regulations are available on this website or you may call the Division at 601-359-9055 and ask for the scrap metal unit with any questions.

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7.How do I report a violation of scrap metal law?

Answer:

To report a suspected violation of scrap metal law, call the Division at 601-359-9055 and ask for the scrap metal unit. We will assist with your complaint and will, if needed, assist in referral to local law enforcement.

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