Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 17, any person in South Carolina  wishing to transport and sell any non-ferrous metals including copper and catalytic converters to a scrap metal recycler must first obtain a “permit to transport and sell” from the county sheriff in the county where the seller resides. Out-of-state and out-of-county residents must obtain permits in the county where the metals recycler is located. This “permit to transport and sell” is free to the public.
Two types of permits are available to the public. The first is a 12-month permit for those who intend to transport and sell non-ferrous metals more than two times in a 12-month period. To obtain this permit, a person must go to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, located at 8045 Howard Street, and complete the application provided by the sheriff. The person must provide his/her name, address, telephone number, driver’s license or picture ID, vehicle description and tag number.
The sheriff, upon approval of the application, will then issue the permit to that individual, which will allow them to transport to a recycler.
The second permit is a 48-hour permit that may be obtained by calling the sheriff’s office at 864-503-4553 or 864-503-4554. The person making the call will be given a permit number good for transporting non-ferrous metals for 48 hours. This permit is for those who intend to transport transport and sell such metals no more than twice a year. If you intend to transport non-ferrous metals more than twice a year you must obtain a 12-month permit.
Additionally, any metals recyclers intending to purchase non-ferrous metals, includiong copper or catalytic converters, must obtain a “permit to purchase” from the county sheriff in the county in which they do business. There is a $200 fee for this “permit to purchase” and it is renewable every two years.
Further, any metal recycler seeking a permit must be doing business from a fixed site or location. A metal recycler may not purchase non-ferrous metals from a person unless that person presents their “permit to transport and sell” or permit number if it is a 48-hour permit.
Also, under the new law it is unlawful to transport in a vehicle or have in one’s possession in a vehicle in Spartanburg County non-ferrous metals of an aggregate weight of more than 10 pounds. This restriction does not apply in the following conditions:
• If the vehicle is a vehicle used in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of transporting non-ferrous metals.
• If the person can present a valid permit to transport and sell non-ferrous metals.
• If the person can present a valid bill of sale for the non-ferrous metals.
This law does not apply to a holder of a retail business license, an authorized wholesaler, contactor licensed pursuant to the law or a gas, electric, communications, water, plumbing, electrical or climate conditioning service provider.
If a deputy determines that one or more of the exceptions applies or the deputy determines that the non-ferrous metals are not stolen goods and are in the rightful possession of the person, the deputy shall not issue a citation for a violation.
– article submitted
by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office