Ferrous · Non-ferrous · Specialty alloys
The rare value in every tonne.
We buy, grade and trade all classes of metal scrap for UK industry and export.
The house
A UK trading desk for metal that still has a life.
Scrap is not waste when it is graded, documented and placed with the right buyer. We exist to move ferrous and non-ferrous material efficiently — from demolition arisings and factory offcuts to cable, motors and high-grade copper parcels.
Unicorn Metal Trade Ltd works with plumbers, electricians, fabricators, demolition contractors, manufacturers and other licensed dealers. We buy, we sell, and we arrange collection or delivery according to the load. Prices track the London market and are quoted against the actual grade on the day — not a round number on a faded board.
Materials
If it is metal, we will look at it.
We deal in the full spectrum of scrap grades used by UK yards and international mills. Separate loads attract better prices; mixed loads are still welcome — we sort, weigh and grade on arrival or at your site.
Non-ferrous
Copper
- Dry bright wire and new tube
- Heavy copper and braziery
- Tanks, busbar and mixed copper
Non-ferrous
Aluminium
- Extrusion, sheet and old rolled
- Cast aluminium and cuttings
- Alloy wheels and litho
Ferrous
Iron & steel
- HMS 1 and 2, short steel, cutts
- Construction steel, tubing, plate
- Cast iron, engines, brake discs
Non-ferrous
Brass & cable
- Clean and mixed brass, gunmetal
- Household, data and armoured cable
- Bronze, zinc and lead
Specialty
Stainless & alloys
- 304 / 316 stainless and turnings
- High-speed and tool steels
- Nickel, titanium and other alloys
Specialty
Motors & plant
- Electric motors and compressors
- Transformers and switchgear
- Plant clearance and mixed arisings
Services
Buy. Grade. Place. Repeat.
The same desk handles inflow from UK trade and outflow to processors. You get a single point of contact, a clear grade, and a payment you can trace.
We buy your scrap
Trade and industrial parcels, regular bin collections, and one-off site arisings. Quoted against live market grades, paid by bank transfer or non-transferable cheque.
We sell graded lots
Prepared ferrous and non-ferrous material for mills, foundries, smelters and other licensed dealers — containerised, bulk or collected from our network.
Collection & clearance
Arranged collection across the UK for commercial volumes. Skips, stillages and lorry loads for demolition, fabrication and factory clear-outs.
Export logistics
Containerised sea freight and overland movements with the paperwork the destination requires — Annex VII, commodity codes and inspection where needed.
Weighing & grading
Calibrated weighing and honest grading. Mixed loads are sorted; contamination is discussed before the ticket is closed, not after.
Paperwork done properly
Waste transfer notes, identity verification and a payment trail. You keep a record that stands up if the Environment Agency or your auditor asks.
How it works
Five steps. No mystery on the scale.
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Tell us what you have
Send photos, approximate weight and location. Trade accounts can skip the small talk and go straight to a collection slot.
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We inspect and grade
On site or on arrival. Ferrous and non-ferrous can travel together; we will separate them if you have not.
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Weigh, agree, ticket
The weight and grade are agreed before payment. You see the ticket. If something is contaminated, we say so immediately.
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Payment by the book
Bank transfer or a crossed, non-transferable cheque. Cash is illegal for licensed dealers in England and Wales. We will also need photographic ID.
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Collect or ship
We take the material away, or we place a graded lot with your mill or a partner processor. Export loads move with the correct waste-shipment documents.
Who we serve
Built for people who generate metal, not hobby loads.
The desk is set up for commercial rhythm: weekly collections, project clearances, and parcels large enough to grade properly.
Construction & demolition
Structural steel, rebar, copper pipe, cabling and mixed site arisings.
Fabrication & manufacturing
Offcuts, turnings, stainless, aluminium extrusion and production scrap.
Electrical & plumbing trades
Copper tube and wire, brass fittings, lead, and all grades of cable.
Mills, foundries & dealers
Graded ferrous and non-ferrous supply, including export container loads.
Compliance
Licensed dealing, not a van and a handshake.
The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 exists to stop theft and cash-in-hand trading. We treat it as the operating system, not a poster on the wall.
No cash. Ever.
Section 12 of the Act makes it an offence for a dealer in England and Wales to pay for scrap in cash. We pay by electronic transfer or a non-transferable cheque only. There are no exceptions, including vehicles sold for scrap value.
We know who we are buying from
Identity is verified before payment — typically a passport or photocard driving licence — and a record of the transaction is kept as the law requires.
Waste paperwork that travels
Every collection or delivery can be accompanied by a waste transfer note. Keep it. Duty of care sits with the producer as well as the carrier.
Questions
Straight answers.
The same queries come in from every new trade account. Here they are, without the sales language.
Yes. Ferrous, non-ferrous and mixed parcels: copper, aluminium, brass, steel, iron, stainless, cable, motors, lead, zinc, bronze and specialty alloys. If you are unsure of the grade, send a photograph — a magnet test is a useful first split between ferrous and the rest.
Both. Commercial volumes and regular trade accounts are collected. Smaller lots can be delivered by arrangement. Collection viability depends on weight, access and location — tell us both and we will say which way is cheaper for you.
Against current UK and LME-linked markets for the specific grade. Copper and aluminium move daily; ferrous is quoted per tonne. We do not publish a stale price list because a week-old copper number is a lie. Ask for today’s figure on your grade.
No. Licensed dealers in England and Wales cannot pay cash for scrap metal. Anyone offering notes is breaking the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. We pay by Faster Payments, BACS or a crossed cheque to the named seller.
Yes. Graded lots can move in containers or bulk, with the waste-shipment and customs documents the destination requires. Green-list non-hazardous scrap still needs the correct forms; we do not ship undocumented loads.
Trading desk
Call or email. We will come back with a grade and a number.
Photographs help. Approximate weight helps more. If you need a collection, include access notes and postcode.