Metalwork Background

How Can I Recycle

Recycling Regulations

In the state of Alabama, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have valid photo identification
  • Have your picture taken
  • Have your vehicle’s picture taken
  • Sign a statement that the material you’re selling is yours to sell

There are also rules regarding what you can sell. Paperwork is required for the following materials: catalytic converters, burnt copper wire, central AC units, copper and radiators out of central AC units, street signs, grave markers and vases, manhole covers, and anything coming from a utility or city government. Please understand these are not rules we made up on the fly, they are the law in Alabama. Most of these laws carry a felony charge for noncompliance.

You can read the full text of these regulations below:

Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) FERROUS METALS. Any metals containing significant quantities of iron or steel, excluding motor vehicles purchased in accordance with Section 32-8-87.

(2) LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. A duly constituted and certified peace officer of the State of Alabama or of any county or municipality within the state.

(3) METAL PROPERTY. Metals as defined in this section as either ferrous or nonferrous metals.

(4) NONFERROUS METALS. Metals not containing significant quantities of iron or steel, including, without limitation, copper, brass, aluminum other than aluminum cans, bronze, lead, zinc, nickel, stainless steel, and alloys thereof, including stainless steel beer kegs.

(5) PERSON. An individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, trust, association, or any other legal entity.

(6) PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CARD. A driver’s license or identification card issued by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or a similar card issued by another state, a military identification card, a passport, or an appropriate work authorization issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security.

(7) PHOTOGRAPH. A still photographic image, including an image captured in digital format, which is of such quality that the persons and objects depicted are identifiable.

(8) PURCHASE TRANSACTION. A transaction in which a secondary metals recycler gives consideration in exchange for regulated metal property.

(9) SECONDARY METALS RECYCLER. Any person, whether licensed or not licensed, who is engaged, from a fixed location or otherwise, in the business of paying compensation for ferrous or nonferrous metals, whether or not engaged in the business of performing the manufacturing process by which ferrous metals or nonferrous metals are converted into raw material products consisting of prepared grades and having an existing or potential economic value. The term does not include a pawnbroker licensed pursuant to Chapter 19A of Title 5, or a licensed automotive dismantler and parts recycler as defined in Section 40-12-410, unless the entities engage in the business of paying compensation for ferrous or nonferrous metals.

(10) VERIFIABLE DOCUMENTATION. Written evidence of ownership which may be verified, including, but not limited to, receipts, bills of sale, titles, certificates of title, purchase agreements, shipping manifests, work orders, etc.

Record of purchases.

(a) A secondary metals recycler shall maintain a legible record of all purchase transactions of ferrous or nonferrous metals to which the secondary metals recycler is a party. The record shall include all of the following information:

(1) The name and address of the secondary metals recycler.

(2) The name or identification of the employee responsible for making the purchase on behalf of the secondary metals recycler.

(3) The date and time of the transaction.

(4) The weight, quantity, or volume and a description of the type of metal property purchased in a purchase transaction. For purposes of this subdivision, the term “type of metal property” shall include a general physical description, such as wire, tubing, extrusions, or casting.

(5) The amount of consideration given in a purchase transaction for the metal property.

(6) A signed statement from the person receiving consideration in the purchase transaction stating that he or she is the rightful owner of the metal property or is authorized to sell the metal property being sold.

(7) The name and address of the person delivering the metal property to the secondary metals recycler.

(8) A photocopy or scanned copy of the personal identification card of the person delivering the metal property to the secondary metals recycler, including the distinctive number from, and type of, the personal identification card of the person delivering the metal property to the secondary metals recycler.

(9) The vehicle license tag number and state of issue, or the vehicle identification number if no vehicle license tag is available, and the type of vehicle used to deliver the metal property to the secondary metals recycler. For purposes of this subdivision, the term “type of vehicle” shall mean an automobile, pickup truck, van, or truck.

(10) A digital photograph or video recording of the person delivering or receiving consideration for the metal property delivered to the secondary metals recycler in which the person’s facial features are clearly visible and a photograph or video recording of the metal property as delivered or sold in which the type of metal property is identifiable. The time and date shall be digitally recorded on the photograph or video recording.

(b) A secondary metals recycler shall maintain or cause to be maintained the information required by subsection (a) for not less than one year from the date of the purchase transaction.

(c) Any person who intentionally violates the requirements of subsections (a) or (b) shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense, a Class A misdemeanor for a second offense, and a Class C felony for a third or subsequent offense within a 10-year period.

(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to give false information and receive money or other consideration from a secondary metals recycler in return for metal property. Any person in violation of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class C felony

Payment and purchase limitations.

(a) A secondary metals recycler may not enter into any cash transactions in excess of fifty dollars ($50) for copper, copper/aluminum air conditioning coils, or catalytic convertors, or any items described in subdivision (a)(2) or (a)(10) of Section 13A-8-37, or in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) for all other metals in payment for the purchase of metal property. Payment by check may be made payable only to the person whose information was recorded pursuant to Section 13A-8-31.

(b) It shall be unlawful for a secondary metals recycler to purchase metal property from a person younger than 18 years of age.

(c) Metal property may not be purchased between the hours of 9:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M.

(d) Any person who intentionally violates the requirements of this section shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense, a Class A misdemeanor for a second offense, and a Class C felony for a third or subsequent offense within a 10-year period.

Damage or destruction of property.

(a) It is unlawful for a person with the intent to damage property and having no right to do so or any reasonable ground to believe that he or she has such a right, damages or destroys any of the following:

(1) Telecommunications, cable communications, or electric power transmission pedestal or pole owned or operated by a telecommunications, cable, or electric power company or cooperative, or electric power supplier, or railroad.

(2) Telecommunications, cable communications, or electric power grounding or any other equipment or materials used in the delivery of electricity, wire, fiber insulator, power supply transformer, ground wire, or other apparatus, equipment, or fixture used in the transmission of telecommunications, cable communications, or electric power owned or operated by a telecommunications, cable, or electric power company or cooperative, or electric power supplier, or railroad.

(3) Equipment used in the transmission of wireless communications or related to wireless communications.

(4) Equipment used at any facility of over the air broadcast companies.

(5) Railroad materials and lading, including, but not limited to, any rail telecommunications; cable communications; power and signal equipment and wires; road/rail crossing signals, equipment, and wires; metal property lading being transported by a railroad; and any railroad track and other operating materials, including switch component, spike, angle bar, tie plate or bolt of the type used in constructing railroads.

(6) Electric power line, gas line, water line, wire or fiber insulators, electric motors or other apparatus, heating and cooling systems, and environmental control systems that are connected to farm shops, on-farm grain drying and storage complexes, animal production facilities, irrigation systems, greenhouse facilities, or other agricultural, forestry, or food-related activities, equipment, structures, systems, or vehicles.

(7) Any electric power line, gas line, water line, wire or fiber insulators, fencing, gates, security structures, electric motors or other apparatus, metering instruments, communications antenna, environmental control systems, and processing plants that are connected to oil, natural gas, coalbed methane, shale gas, or other petroleum producing properties, equipment, structures, systems, or vehicles.

(8) Any metal property from a school, place of worship, or a secondary metals recycler’s premises.

(9) A copper, aluminum, or aluminum-copper condensing or evaporating coil, including its tubing or rods, from a heating or air conditioning unit, excluding scrap from window air conditioning units and automobile condenser coils, unless any one of the following criteria are satisfied:

a. The condenser coils are being sold by a licensed contractor, HVAC contractor, plumber, or electrician and a current and valid license with number is provided at the time of sale and copied or scanned by the secondary metals recycler at the time of sale.

b. The condenser coils are being sold by a person with verifiable documentation, such as a receipt or work order, indicating that the condenser coils are the result of a replacement of an air conditioner unit or condenser coils performed by a licensed contractor.

(10) Utility access covers, manhole covers, or storm drain covers, unless the seller is a company that deals in the manufacture or sale of the aforementioned products.

(11) Grave markers, vases, memorials, statues, plaques, or other bronze objects used at a cemetery or other location where deceased persons are interred or memorialized or any other metal historic markers or monuments or the attached support or post to either, unless the seller is a company that deals in the manufacture or sale of the aforementioned products.

(b) Any person in violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class C felony.

(c) Any person in violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class B felony if the damage or destruction causes imminent danger to the health and safety of the public, a metal owner’s employees, first responders, law enforcement officers, or utility workers, or cause an interruption in communications services or electric utility services. For purposes of this subsection, “imminent danger” means the existence of any condition that could hinder or disrupt the normal operation of equipment, systems, or services provided for the health and safety of the public, metal owner’s employees, first responders, law enforcement officers, or utility workers or cause an interruption in communications services or electric utility services.

(d) At the time of sentencing of any person convicted under this section, the judge may order restitution in an amount determined by the court; provided, however, the amount shall not be less than the value of the metal property determined to have been damaged or stolen and shall include the cost of replacement and the cost to repair any and all damage caused during the commission of the crime for which the person is convicted.

Possession or control of stolen property.

(a) It is unlawful for a person to possess or control the following property knowing that it has been stolen or having reasonable grounds to believe it has been stolen, unless the property is possessed or controlled with intent to restore it to the owner:

(1) Metal property marked with the initials of an electrical company, a telephone company, a cable company, another public utility, a railroad, or a brewer.

(2) Utility access covers, manhole covers, or storm drain covers, unless the seller is a company that deals in the manufacture or sale of the aforementioned products.

(3) Street light poles and fixtures, unless the seller is a company that deals in the manufacture or sale of the aforementioned products.

(4) Road and bridge guard rails unless the seller is a company that deals in the manufacture or sale of the aforementioned products.

(5) Highway or street signs, traffic light signals, and traffic directional and control signs unless the seller is a company that deals in the manufacture or sale of the aforementioned products.

(6) Water meter covers unless the seller is a company that deals in the manufacture or sale of the aforementioned products.

(7) Metal beer kegs including those made of stainless steel that are clearly marked as being the property of a beer manufacturer unless the seller is a company that deals in the manufacture or sale of the aforementioned products.

(8) Metal property marked with the name of a government entity.

(9) Unused and undamaged building construction or utility materials consisting of copper, pipe, tubing or wiring, aluminum wire, or historical markers.

(10) Grave markers, vases, memorials, statues, plaques, or other bronze objects used at a cemetery or other location where deceased persons are interred or memorialized, unless the seller is a company that deals in the manufacture or sale of the aforementioned products.

(11) A copper, aluminum, or aluminum-copper condensing or evaporating coil, including its tubing or rods, from a heating or air conditioning unit, excluding scrap from window air conditioning units and automobile condenser coils, unless any one of the following criteria are satisfied:

a. The condenser coils are being sold by a licensed contractor, HVAC contractor, plumber, or electrician and a current and valid license with number is provided at the time of sale and copied or scanned by the secondary metals’ recycler at the time of sale.

b. The condenser coils are being sold by a person with verifiable documentation, such as a receipt or work order, indicating that the condenser coils are the result of a replacement of an air conditioner unit or condenser coils performed by a licensed contractor.

(b) Any person who violates the requirements of subdivision (a)(2) or (a)(10) shall be guilty of a Class C felony for a first offense, a Class B felony for a second offense, and a Class A felony for a third or subsequent offense within a 10-year period.

(c) Any person who violates the requirements of subdivision (1), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), or (9) of subsection (a) shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense, a Class A misdemeanor for a second offense, and a Class C felony for a third or subsequent offense within a 10-year period.

Ownership documentation required for purchase of certain property.

(a) It is unlawful for a secondary metals recycler to purchase the following property unless a copy of verifiable documentation in addition to the signed statement required by subdivision (a)(6) of Section 13A-8-31 is provided to the secondary metals recycler that the seller is the owner of the property:

(1) Catalytic convertors that are not part of an entire motor vehicle.

(2) Metal property of a telephone company, an electric company, a cable company, a water company, another utility, or a railroad marked or otherwise identified as such.

(3) Copper wire that has been burned to remove the insulation, unless verifiable documentation is provided that the source of the copper wire was in a building destroyed by fire.

(4) A copper, aluminum, or aluminum-copper condensing or evaporating coil, including its tubing or rods, from a heating or air conditioning unit, excluding scrap from window air conditioning units and automobile condenser coils, unless any one of the following criteria are satisfied:

a. The condenser coils are being sold by a licensed contractor, HVAC contractor, plumber, or electrician and a current and valid license with number is provided at the time of sale and copied or scanned by the secondary metals’ recycler at the time of sale.

b. The condenser coils are being sold by a person with verifiable documentation, such as a receipt or work order, indicating that the condenser coils are the result of a replacement of an air conditioner unit or condenser coils performed by a licensed contractor.

(5) Utility access covers, manhole covers, or storm drain covers, unless the seller is a company that deals in the manufacture or sale of the aforementioned products.

(6) Grave markers, vases, memorials, statues, plaques, or other bronze objects used at a cemetery or other location where deceased persons are interred or memorialized or any other metal historic markers or monuments or the attached support or post to either, unless the seller is a company that deals in the manufacture or sale of the aforementioned products.

(7) Any metal property that has been brightly painted or marked to deter theft of the property.

(8) Ventilation fans or similar fans designed to supply fresh air to workers in confined spaces such as underground mines or other similar circumstances.

(b) Any person in violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class B felony.