British Metals Recycling Association
British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) is a non-profit trade group for the UK metal recycling industry. It represents more than 300 member companies and helps the public find local metal recyclers via its website. The BMRA is based in Cambridgeshire, England.
The UK metals recycling sector is a £5 billion industry with about 2,500 businesses and 8,000–10,000 jobs. It processes around 13 million tonnes of ferrous and non-ferrous metals each year. Members recycle metals such as steel, aluminium and copper, and many also recycle related products like end-of-life vehicles, packaging, batteries, appliances, building materials and electronics. The BMRA also represents those who provide services to the industry, from transport to software.
Membership is open to UK metal recycling companies that are reputable and have at least two years in business. All members must follow the BMRA Code of Conduct. The association’s mission is to promote the metals recycling industry while protecting its members’ interests.
Key legal points include the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, which requires dealers to have a local authority licence and verify sellers’ identities, and bans cash purchases of scrap metal in England and Wales.
History and context: the BMRA was formed in 2001 from the merger of the British Secondary Metals Association and the British Metals Federation. The UK scrap industry has long played a strategic role in the economy and has evolved through regulation and changes in how scrap is recovered.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:35 (CET).