A Look at the Scrapping Industry in 2014

Published 20 August 2014

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4.6 from 19 Google reviewsAuthorised Treatment Facility, South Croydon

A silver Toyota Avensis loaded on the SSC recovery truck
Toyota Avensis, collected in Kingston

Recycling roughly 13 million tonnes of metal every year, the UK’s scrapping industry is leading the way in the British green revolution. At Car Scrap Surrey, we’re proud to be a part of something that’s making such an impact on the environment, and we’re delighted to report that the future for the scrapping industry is certainly bright for the remainder of 2014 and beyond, both in terms of industry regulations and economic forecast.

A better regulated industry

Effective from 1 October 2013, with a grace period until 1 December 2013, serious changes were made to British scrapping legislation, requiring all metal scrap dealers to be fully licensed in order to purchase junk metal or used vehicles. This was an all-important step towards stopping unregulated metal dealing and metal theft, which costs the UK around £220 million each year.

As a fully licensed and authorised scrapping and car recovery dealer, at Car Scrap Surrey, we fully endorse this important legislation; already, it has lessened the impact of metal theft and helped protect customers from rogue traders who can’t provide a valid destruction notice to prove that they’re no longer owners of their scrapped vehicles.

Lots more scope for export and growth

As the world economy is looking up, so too is the economic forecast for the scrapping industry. Now that economies are restabilising and experiencing growth once again, there is an increased global demand for scrap metal. Right here in the UK, we export scrap metal to countries like China, Brazil and India; this means their reinvigorated construction and manufacturing industries are now in need of more scrap metal from UK scrapping companies.

With the worldwide demand for scrap metal set to increase by 3.3 per cent (up to 1.52 billion tonnes) over the course of this year, 2014 promises a much greater scope for higher exports of the UK’s recycled metal, and increased growth for the industry all around.

Power to the green revolution

So far this year, we’ve seen a continued awareness of the need to help the environment and lessen our carbon footprints however we can. The green movement is definitely going strong, so let’s keep up that momentum for the rest of 2014!
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Clearing through any old clutter in your home is the best way to start; whether you’ve got old washers and dryers lying around, a rusty old jalopy you never managed to get rid of, or just a load of empty beer cans that have built up over time, most of us could stand to benefit from a good clear-out. Simply contact us at Car Scrap Surrey and we’ll be more than happy to come straight over and collect your old metal junk, paying you a fair price for all your scrap.

More guides

Any make, any condition. If it has wheels or it’s metal, we’ll take it.

  • Cars
  • Vans
  • Non-runners
  • MOT failures
  • Crash damage
  • Motorbikes
  • Caravans
  • 4x4s
  • Scrap metal
  • Catalytic converters

What people say about Rick

4.6 from 19 reviews on Google

“Great service, easy, friendly and efficient. I helped an elderly friend to scrap her old car from an awkward location with limited access. The car had a seized clutch so couldn't move under it's own power, or so I thought, but Rick had an impressive trick to get it moving, and it took barely 5 seconds to get it down the drive and straight up onto his flat-bed truck. A sight to behold!!”
Stephen D., Google review
“Professional, Courteous and Quick. Rang on a Monday for a Weds pickup (which suited me), I'm sure pick up could have been same day if I had wanted it. Rick arrived exactly when he said. Good price received and car put onto pick up, V5 all completed and car gone within 5 mins. Rick we a joy to deal with. I would thoroughly recommend Rick and SSC...”
Michael K., Google review
“So impressed with how quickly everything was sorted! We had a lot of scrap metal left over from building work and Ricky was here in a flash. No problem with anything at all, he just took everything. Saved us so much effort than having to go to the dump, and we got some money too!”
Karen M., Google review

Genuine reviews from our Google Business Profile, checked weekly (last updated 23 October 2026). Read all reviews

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