What documents you need to sell scrap metal (individual or company)
Plenty of people turn up at the scrap yard and find out at the scale that they're missing a document or can't hand over a particular item. So you don't make the trip twice, here's what you need, explained simply.
In short
- Individuals only need an ID card and get a weighbridge ticket with every handover.
- Income tax and the Environment Fund contribution are withheld from the gross amount — always ask for the net price.
- Manhole covers, road signs, cables from poles and gas cylinders aren't accepted.
If you're a private individual
You need an identity document — your ID card. The collection yard is required to record who hands over the metal, so without ID the handover can't go ahead.
For every handover you get a weighbridge ticket with the weight and type of metal. Keep it: it's proof that you handed the material over legally.
Why you get less than the gross price
When you sell scrap as an individual, the yard withholds income tax and the Environment Fund contribution from the gross amount, as the law requires. That's why the amount you get in hand is lower than the gross price.
When you compare prices between yards, always ask whether the price you're quoted is gross or net. Otherwise you may be comparing two different things.
If you're selling on behalf of a company
A company hands over scrap metal with documents: a delivery note or an invoice, and transport goes with the waste loading-unloading form. Payment is made by bank transfer, not cash.
If your company produces scrap metal regularly, a contract with a licensed collector is worth having: scheduled pickups, monthly paperwork and clear prices.
What you can't sell as scrap
Yards don't accept items that look stolen or belong to public property: manhole covers, road signs, railway rails, telecom or power cables cut from poles, grave railings. Collection yards are required to refuse them and notify the police.
Gas cylinders and containers that are pressurised or hold chemical residues aren't brought in as they are, because they're dangerous. Call us first and we'll tell you how they can be handed over safely.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I sell scrap metal without ID?
- No. The collection yard has to record the identity of whoever hands the material over, so ID is mandatory.
- Can I sell scrap for someone else, for example a neighbour?
- The handover is made in your name, with your ID, and you're responsible for where the material came from. Be careful what you bring on someone else's behalf.
- Do I get paid on the spot?
- Individuals are paid on the spot, after weighing. Companies are paid by bank transfer, based on the documents.
This article is informational and reflects our practice at the date of publication. Romanian environmental legislation changes frequently — for your company's specific situation, check the texts in force and consult the environmental protection agency or a specialist adviser.