How to Verify a Licensed Scrap Metal Dealer in Singapore

The scrap-metal industry in Singapore is professional and regulated, but it is also a sector where unlicensed operators show up from time to time — especially during price spikes. If you are selling anything of real value (copper, brass, stainless, catalytic converters, a vehicle), taking ten minutes to verify the buyer is the best insurance you can get. Here is a practical checklist.

Step 1 — Check the NEA General Waste Collector Licence

Scrap-metal dealers in Singapore operate under NEA's General Waste Collector (GWC) licensing regime, and, where applicable, related permits for processing and storage. NEA maintains a public register of licensed waste collectors searchable on their e-services portal. You can enter the company name or UEN and the register will show:

• Whether the licence is current, suspended, or expired
• The scope of waste types covered
• The licensed premises address
• The licence expiry date

If the name doesn't appear in the register, they are not licensed — full stop. If the scope doesn't cover scrap metal specifically, they may be licensed for another waste stream but not yours. As of April 2026 the register is the authoritative source; we recommend verifying directly even if a dealer gives you a licence number. You can see our own licensing record here.

Step 2 — ACRA BizFile Company Check

Every legitimate business entity in Singapore is registered with ACRA and searchable for free on BizFile (www.bizfile.gov.sg). A free search gives you the UEN, registered address, incorporation date, business activity (SSIC code), and status (live or struck off). A paid business profile (around S$5.50) gives you directors, shareholders, and share capital.

Look for:

• Business status: Live. A struck-off or under-liquidation entity is not a counterparty you want
• Business activity (SSIC): should include 38300 (Materials recovery) or similar waste-related codes
• Incorporation date: not definitive, but longer operating history is a positive signal
• Registered address: should match the physical yard, or at least a related office

If a "dealer" has no ACRA record, they are operating as an unregistered individual. That is legal for casual sales between private parties, but it is not a basis to run a scrap-buying business, and you will have no legal recourse for a disputed weight or price.

Step 3 — Physical Yard Check

A real scrap yard looks like a real scrap yard. Spend 60 seconds looking at the operation when you drive in. A legitimate licensed yard will have:

• A weighbridge with a visible certification sticker (typically from SAC-SINGLAS accredited calibrators)
• Sorted bins or bays by grade — copper, brass, aluminium, stainless, ferrous
• Covered storage for non-ferrous (to prevent weight gain from water)
• Safety signage — hard hat area, no smoking, PPE requirements
• CCTV on the gate and weighbridge
• An office with staff who can issue tickets and invoices

An unlicensed operation usually looks different — a rented corner of someone else's lot, a portable scale instead of a weighbridge, cash in a plastic folder, no visible signage, no sorted bins. If it looks like a pop-up, it is a pop-up.

Step 4 — Ask to See the Licence Number on Site

A licensed operator displays the licence prominently, usually in the office or at the weighbridge. Ask to see it. Note the licence number and expiry date, and cross-reference to the NEA register on your phone before you tip the load. This takes 30 seconds and is the single most useful check you can do.

You can also check the name against our team page style — a real business will have real staff who answer the phone and can identify themselves.

Red Flags — Unlicensed Buyer Signals

After enough years in the industry, the pattern is consistent. Unlicensed buyers tend to:

• Solicit via flyers or WhatsApp cold messages with no company name
• Quote prices that sound too good — often to get you to bring the load, then argue the weight
• Meet in neutral locations rather than at a yard
• Refuse to issue a weighbridge ticket or any receipt
• Only accept or offer cash, with no paperwork
• Cannot produce a licence number when asked
• Operate under a changing business name — "last year we were XYZ Trading, now we are ABC Metals"

Any one of these is a warning. Two or more and you should walk. Our guide on the best scrap dealer in Singapore goes deeper on what to compare.

Why Unlicensed Buyers Are a Trap

People ask: if the unlicensed guy pays a little more, why not take it? Three reasons:

1. No audit trail. If your load later becomes part of a theft investigation, you have no proof you sold legitimately
2. No recourse. If the price is shaved at the scale, or the payment bounces, there is no entity to pursue
3. The higher price is usually a bait. Once you are on site, the grade gets argued down and the net is lower than a licensed yard

The industry calls this the "over the phone vs over the scale" gap. Licensed dealers quote close to what they pay. Unlicensed buyers quote what gets you to drive over.

A 10-Minute Pre-Sale Checklist

1. Search the business on the NEA waste collector register — is the licence current?
2. Search on ACRA BizFile — is the company live and in a relevant SSIC?
3. Check the yard address on Google Maps — does it look like an operating yard?
4. Call the office number — does a human answer and can they quote today's rates?
5. Ask for their licence number and verify it on NEA
6. Ask for a sample weighbridge ticket or invoice

If all six check out, you are dealing with a real operator. If two or more fail, move on.

Related Reading

• Molten Steel — NEA & ACRA Credentials
• Best Scrap Metal Dealer in Singapore
• Meet the Molten Steel Team
• How to Sell Scrap Metal in Singapore
• Scrap Dealer vs Recycler Explained
• Testimonials & Case Studies