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Requirements
On November 1, 2020 provisions of the Protecting Alberta Industry from Theft Act came into force to make it more difficult for criminals to sell stolen metal for scrap.
Bill 49, the Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, has been introduced to further prevent theft. This page will be updated as new transaction requirements and changes to enforcement are implemented.
All scrap metal dealers and recyclers must:
- report transactions involving certain common forms of metal – including high-theft items like copper wire and catalytic converters – to law enforcement through a central database
- make payments for these transactions only with traceable forms of currency (cash not allowed)
Commonly stolen metals
The Scrap Metal Dealers and Recyclers Regulation lists these items as examples:
- copper cables and wires, including power lines, telecommunications cables and cable reels
- metal traffic control lights, signals and signs
- street lighting poles, wiring and fixtures
- sewer grates and manhole covers
- metal guard rails and handrails
- metal grave markers, funeral vases, memorial plaques and monuments
- catalytic converters
- lead acid batteries
Report stolen metal
Members of the public should contact their local police to report scrap metal theft.
Scrap metal dealers and recyclers should contact the scrap metal hotline.