Special Rules for Air Conditioner Coils or Condensers
It is a Class A misdemeanor (and possibly other criminal offenses) for a scrap metal dealer to pay cash to a person who presents an air conditioner evaporator coil or condenser, in whole or in part, for sale as scrap, or for such dealer to make payment of any kind at the time of the transaction.
Such may only be sold for scrap by an authorized agent, representative or employee of one of the following:
- A licensed HVAC contractor ( "licensed HVAC contractor" means a person holding a license from the state board for licensing contractors with a CMC, MC, CMC-C or MC-C classification) who acquired the evaporator coil or. condenser in the performance of contracting as defined in § 62-6-102;
- In a jurisdiction exempt from the requirements of Title 68, Chapter 120,of the Tennessee Code, by the provisions of T.C. A. § 68-120-101, a company meeting all local or municipal requirements to obtain a permit from that jurisdiction to repair, replace and install HVAC units containing copper evaporator coils or condensers;
- In a jurisdiction exempt from the requirements of Title 68, Chapter 120, Tennessee Code, by the provisions of T.C.A. § 68-120-101, where the exempt jurisdiction does not require a permit to repair, replace and install HVAC units containing copper evaporator coils or condensers, by a company holding a current business tax license, with a Class 4 classification, or a current sales tax identification number indicating the business as that of an HVAC installer or repairer;
- In a jurisdiction not exempt from the requirements of Title 68, Chapter 120, Tennessee Code, a company holding a current business tax license, with a Class 4 classification, or a current sales tax identification number indicating the business as that of an HVAC installer or repairer.
The person offering the air conditioner evaporator coil or condenser for sale as scrap must possess documentation that the company for whom it is being sold is a company described above and that the person selling the evaporator coil or condenser is an authorized agent, representative or employee of that company.
Payment must be made by check or money order, mailed to the business address of the company for whom the metal is being sold, and the name of such company must be the payee on the check.
Special Rules to Protect Government Property, Historical Markers and Cemeteries
It is a Class A misdemeanor (and possibly subject to other theft offenses) to knowingly sell or attempt to sell to a scrap metal dealer, or for a scrap metal dealer to knowingly purchase or attempt to purchase the following types of scrap metal (unless the person attempting to sell the scrap metal provides reasonable, written documentation that the seller is the owner of the scrap metal or is an employee, agent or other person authorized to sell the scrap metal on behalf of the owner; then the dealer must make a photo copy of any such documentation and retain it as part of the transaction record):
- Scrap metal marked with the initials of an electric, telephone, cable or other public utility, or an electric or telephone cooperative;
- Utility access covers;
- Street light poles and fixtures;
- Road and bridge guard rails;
- Highway or street signs;
- Water meter covers;
- Traffic directional and control signs;
- Traffic light signals;
- Any scrap metal visibly marked or painted with the name of a government entity, business, company or the name of the owner of such metal (the scrap metal must be marked or painted in accordance with a uniform scrap metal marking system to be adopted by department rules);
- Property owned by a telephone, cable, electric, water or other utility, an electric or telephone cooperative or a railroad, and marked or otherwise identified as such;
- Unused and undamaged historical markers, or grave markers and vases.
FAQ & Helpful Tips
We believe that a better informed customer will be a better long term customer. Several frequently asked questions are listed below. If you still have unanswered questions, call us at 865-397-9040 or complete our contact form with your inquiry.
Q: What is scrap metal?
A:"Scrap metal" means any ferrous or non-ferrous metal that is no longer used for its original purpose and is capable of being processed for reuse by a metal recycling facility. This includes, but is not limited to, iron, brass, wire, cable, copper, bronze, aluminum, platinum, lead, solder, steel, stainless steel, catalytic converters, or other similar obsolete ferrous or non-ferrous metals. Aluminum cans are not scrap metal.
Q: Will a customer have to be fingerprinted?
A: Yes
Q: Which types of Identification can I use when selling metals?
A: Valid Govt. issued ID, w/picture, State/Federal Driver's Lic., State Issued ID, Valid Passport, Valid Military ID, Non-Resident Alien Border Crossing Card, US Immigration and Naturalization Service ID
Q: Will a signature be required with every transaction?
A: Yes
Q: Can you purchase from minors?
A: No.
Q: How long will a customer have to wait to get their copper and/or catalytic converter checks?
A: The State Law Requires a 5 day waiting period.
Q: Can I sell HVAC units or parts of a HVAC unit?
A: HVAC coils, condensers, evaporators can only be sold as scrap by a business with one or more of the following: a) Contractors or Commercial Contractors License. b) Business with a class 4 classification indicating business as a HVAC installer/repairer. Business must also have sales tax ID.
- We buy almost anything metal, or mostly metal. Not just aluminum cans or copper.
- What many people put in the trash, we buy for cash
- Prices can change daily, weekly or monthly, depending on market conditions
- Prices depend upon many factors, such as thickness of the metal or alloys. (mixing of different metals such as aluminum or copper)
- We pay cash or check for purchases
- We accept tires on rims
- You do not need to crush aluminum cans
- You do not need to separate metals
- You do not need to take off rubber, plastic or wood. We will gladly purchase your appliances as-is.
- We accept whole cars! You do not need to take the time to take hoses off of car radiators, remove steel screws off aluminum doors or remove steel off aluminum car parts.
New Tennessee Law Concerning Scrap Metals
Effective July 1, 2008
The State of Tennessee has passed SB2400 effective on July 1, 2008 that requires several changes to the trade of scrap metals. The most notable are listed below:
Buyers of scrap metals are required to retain an image of the scrap seller’s state or federally issued photo identification.
Buyers of scrap metals are required to retain a thumb print for each transaction from the scrap seller.
All purchases of scrap copper must be paid by check and the check must be mailed to the seller’s address or held for 5 days.
Scrap Metal Dealers can only buy Aluminum/Copper Radiators (Air Conditioner Coils) from Licensed HVAC Contractors holding a CMC, MC, CMC-C or MC-C classification license. These purchases must be paid by check and must be mailed to the business address of the licensee.
Scrap Metal Acceptance Policy
In order to comply with existing Federal, State and Local Safety and Environmental Laws and/or regulations, the following items will not be accepted at our facility:
- Asbestos or asbestos containing materials such as pipe or I-Beam insulation, brake shoes or pads, tiles, packing material and debris
- Air bag canisters
- Military scrap of any kind unless it is inspected and approved in advance
- Railroad scrap unless accompanied by the appropriate ownership documentation
- Unexpended Ammunition shells and any explosives or explosive materials
- Any radioactive materials or containers
- Compressed gas cylinders, including propane bottles unless they are cut in half or are punctured
- Oils, other petroleum products and petroleum by-products
- Any other hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, or universal waste
- Any regulated metal marked with the initials or other identification of a telephone, cable, electric, water, or other public utility, or any brewer
- Any utility access cover
- Any street light pole or fixture
- Any metal beer keg, including any made of stainless steel that is clearly marked as being the property of the beer manufacturer
- Any traffic directional or control sign
- Any traffic light signal
- Any regulated metal marked with the name of a government entity
- Any property owned by a railroad and marked and otherwise identified as such
IF PROHIBITED ITEMS ARE NOT REMOVED, THEY AND THE MATERIAL THEY CAME WITH MAY BE REJECTED. IN LIEU OF REJECTION, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT, AT OUR DISCRETION, TO PROPERLY REMOVE AND DISPOSE OF THE PROHIBITED ITEMS AT SUPPLIER’S EXPENSE