Metal Recycling Laws & Regulations

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Restricted Regulated Metals (below) || Download PDF

Florida Statute 538.18 that governs Secondary Metals Recyclers
RESTRICTED REGULATED METALS

1. A Manhole Cover
2. An Electric light pole or other utility structure and its fixtures, wires and
   hardware that are readily identifiable as connected to the utility structure.
3. A guard rail
4. A street sign, traffic sign, or traffic signal and its fixtures and hardware
5. Communication, transmission, distribution, and service wire from a utility,
   including copper or aluminum bus bars, connectors, grounding plates or
   grounding wire
6. A funeral marker or funeral vase
7. A historical marker
8. Railroad equipment, including, but not limited to, a tie plate, signal house,
   control box, switch plate, E clip, or rail tie junction
9. Any metal item that is observably marked upon reasonable inspection with
   any form of the name, initials, or logo of a governmental entity, utility
   company, cemetery, or railroad
10. A copper, aluminum, or aluminum-copper condensing or evaporator coil,
    including its tubing or rods, from an air-conditioning or heating unit,
    excluding coils from window air-conditioning or heating units and motor
    vehicle air-conditioning or heating units
11. An aluminum or stainless steel container or bottle designed to hold
    propane for fueling forklifts
12. A stainless steel beer keg
13. A catalytic converter or any non-ferrous part of a catalytic converter unless
    purchased as part of a motor vehicle
14. Copper wire that has been burned in whole or in part to remove insulation
15. A brass or bronze commercial valve or fitting, referred to as a “fire
    department connection and control calve” or an “FDC valve” that is
    commonly used on structures for access to water for the purpose of
    extinguishing fires
16. A brass or bronze commercial potable water backflow preventer valve that
    is commonly used to prevent backflow of potable water from commercial
    structures into municipal domestic water service systems
17. A shopping cart
18. A brass water meter
19. A storm grate
20. A brass sprinkler head used in commercial agriculture

• To sell the above you must have proof of ownership:

1. Reasonable proof of ownership may include, but is not limited to, a receipt
   or bill of sale.
2. Is an employee, agent, or contractor of the property’s owner who is
   authorized to sell the property on behalf of the owner. Reasonable proof
   of authorization to sell the property includes, but is not limited to, a signed
   letter on the owner’s letterhead, dated no later than 90 days before sale
   authorizing the seller to sell the property

Payment of Restricted Regulated Metals:

1. Check must be issued to the seller of the metal payable to the seller and
   mailed directly to the street address of the seller that is on file with the
   secondary metals recycler within 3 days after the purchase transaction.
2. A check can be provided at the time of the purchase transaction for an
   organization, corporation, or association registered with the state as a
   charitable, philanthropic, religious, fraternal, civic, patriotic, social, or
   school-sponsored organization or association, or any non-profit
   corporation or association.
3. A check can be provided at the time of the purchase transaction for a
   manufacturing, industrial, or other commercial vendor that generates
   regulated materials in the ordinary course of business.