Industry Insights4 min read
WA Scrap Metal Laws: What Every Seller Needs to Know
ID requirements, EFT and cash payments and ownership rules — WA regulates scrap selling more tightly than most states. Here's what it means for you.
Western Australia has some of the country's tightest scrap metal regulations, designed to shut stolen metal out of the legitimate recycling chain. If you sell scrap — even once — here's what the law means for you.
Photo ID is mandatory
Licensed scrap buyers must sight and record photo identification for every seller of scrap copper and brass, and for purchases over $82.50, every time. A driver's licence or passport does the job, with regulated paperwork stating the seller's address. No ID, no sale — a yard that skips this step is breaking the law, and that should tell you something about how they run the rest of their business.
You must have the right to sell
Selling metal you don't own is theft, and buyers are required to report suspicious material to WA Police. For vehicles you'll need proof of ownership. For deceased estates, farm clearances or commercial equipment, reasonable evidence of authority to sell keeps everything smooth — call ahead if you're unsure what to bring.
Why the rules are good for honest sellers
Tight regulation pushed metal theft down and pushed professional standards up. For legitimate sellers, the recorded, receipted process means your transaction is documented end-to-end — protection for you as much as anyone. At Perth Metal Recyclers we hold a WA second-hand dealer's licence and comply fully with police reporting requirements, so every sale is clean, quick and correct.