Pacific Materials Handling has the following plant for sale:

VOLVO, EC290C, l with the SHEAR attachment, VTN C1300.

Also new unused dipper arm.

Full 1000 hour service just completed by Volvo (CJD)

Shear serviced blades adjusted and repacked.

Approx 1000 hours As new condition.

Please click on the attached PDF for photos and contact details. Queries and interest should be directed to David Hetherington at Pacific Materials Handling.

This month's customer of the month is Ron Gibbons who was nominated by Meredith Scrap Metals in New Plymouth. Ron is 92 years old (turning 93 in February!) and he travels 4 hours each way from Mangakino to visit the team at Meredith Scrap Metals. Ron has been a customer since the business was first established and they love seeing him arrive with his load of scrap metals. Ron has seen a number of changes over the years and apparently he still keeps a good eye on the scales when he's in, but the team at Meredith Scrap all agree that he's a great sort and they hope they too are still 'hauling scrap' when they get to his age. Ron is pictured below (in the middle), with Craig Zimmerman and Graham Meredith during his most recent visit.

Recently the Association has fielded a number of calls from the public regarding the sudden decrease in scrap metal prices. Unfortunately this is due to the limited availibility of international markets, and while we hope prices will improve in the short term we anticipate that this fall in pricing will continue for the next few months.

Like most international markets, scrap metal prices are subject to a number of influences. Presently the sale of scrap metals on the world market is proving difficult, so you can expect to see a lowering of prices from your local dealers to reflect this.

Ferrous scrap pricing has experienced the most noticable decline in recent weeks, however non ferrous markets are also suffering and have begun their decline as well.

If you are concerned about pricing please give us a call. Unfortunately we can't predict precisely how the markets will develop but we are happy to discuss the present situation with you.

The intent of the Secondhand Dealers & Pawnbrokers Act 2004 is to 'make it harder for criminals to dispose of stolen goods' and to 'make it easier for the police to recover stolen goods and solve property crime'. These intentions are fully supported by this Association, and indeed are aims that we strive to achieve within our own industry.

The problem our industry is experiencing with the Act lies not with it's intent, nor with the regulatory obligations the Act imposes upon scrap metal dealers. We are also not seeking to avoid the reporting requirements regarding the purchasing and sale of scrap metals. We only seek to change or amend the Act so that it clearly distinguishes between scrap metal recyclers and secondhand dealers which we believe are two very different things.

Scrap metal recyclers do not purchase secondhand goods; in reality we perform a very different service to secondhand dealers. Secondhand dealers primarily resell goods intending that they be used for their original purpose. Scrap metal on the other hand is brought by scrap metal recyclers as a raw material which is process, recycled and exported to be used in the production of new goods. Scrap metal is brought and sold as a commodity.

Classifying us as secondhand dealers is confusing for our customers, and misinterperts what it is we do as an industry. Amending the Act to distinguish scrap metal recyclers for who they are and what they do is an important step in recognising and highlighting our industry. In the upcoming year our Association will be talking with government to see if we can 'make it work' just a little better for our industry.

We have already had very constructive and positive talks with Simon Power (National Spokesperson for Justice), the Hon Peter Dunne of the United Future Party who has been particularly empathetic with our Industry's frustrations and very helpful in assisting us, and also with Rodney Hide of the ACT Party.

This is a positive start, and as our message is simple we hope to be able to achieve our goal in the near future.

Trevor Munro, the President of the Scrap Metal Recycling Association of New Zealand, welcomed the passage of the Waste Minimisation Bill through its Committee stages in Parliament last night.

“We absolutely support the purposes and objectives behind this Bill. It recognises the importance of minimising the amount of material going to landfill, which is the core of our business as scrap metal recyclers.

“We particularly applaud last night’s amendment that has narrowed the definition of “waste” in the Bill, meaning scrap metal and other material that has been diverted from the solid waste stream will not be considered “waste”, and will not be subject to many of the Bill’s controls that would have hamstrung our attempts to grow New Zealand’s 17th largest export industry. How can recycled scrap metal be waste?” Trevor Munro said.

“We have long considered ourselves the greenest industry in New Zealand. Members of the Scrap Metal Association of New Zealand have been recycling and exporting scrap metal for decades, and it is great to see the rest of New Zealand catching up with us!”

Currently the Government is looking to pass the new 'Waste Minimisation Bill' which aims to reduce the amount of un necessary waste from filling up our landfills. While this Association supports the intent of the bill, we do hold a number of concerns with the effects this bill will have upon our industry. Specifically, that under the new act scrap metals will be defined as a ''waste''. Including scrap metals in the definition of waste will create a number of difficulties, including the possibility of restricting international trade. Our industry counterparts in Europe are experiencing these difficulties first hand and we believe that if possible we should avoid making the same mistakes.

Scrap metals are NOT waste. They are a valuable resource and an internationally sought after commodity. Furthermore, as an industry the recycling of scrap metals has been around for centuries, is a major export earner for New Zealand, helps to protect our natural resources and environment. Classifying scrap metals as a waste instead of recognising them for the valuable materials that they are is detremental to our industry and the vital role we play in New Zealand's economy.

In celebration of the Association's 40th Anniversary recently our Annual General Meeting was hosted in Wellington -the same location as our first ever meeting back in 1968!

Members enjoyed a two days of workshops, exhibitions and social functions and were addressed by the Association's first President during a banquet dinner. Mr. Bert Proctor commented that much had changed in the industry over the last forty years, but the need for industry players to be united in common isues remained the same.

Next year our Annual General Meeting will be hosted on the 24th and 25th of July 2009, in Nelson. Venue details will be provided later in the year.

If you would like infromation on how you can be invloved with next year's conference, or if you are an industry supplier wishing to register for a trade display at the AGM, please contact our information Officer at admin@scrapmetal.org.nz.

On the first of April 2004 new legislation came into effect which governs the way in which any scrap metal dealer will be able to purchase scrap metals, along with new requirements for the handling of copper products which may be received by the dealer. Any individual or company carrying out business as a scrap metal dealer is required to hold a license under the new Act. If you are selling scrap metals we reccommend that you deal only with licensed dealers.

The most notable changes to the Act for Scrap Metal Dealers and those who are selling them are as follows:


Photo Identification Requirement

Scrap metal dealers are now required to obtain photo identification off all customers for the cash purchase of their scrap metals. Acceptable forms of photo identification include a drivers licence, passport, firearms licence or school ID card. A actual copy of the ID is not required, however the form of ID and number must be clearly recorded. There are some exceptions to this requirement, such as when the metals are purchased from a public auction conducted by a licensed auctioneer, or when the dealer knows the customer personally and can attest to his/her identity.

New Licences For All

Every dealer, including those who held licences under the old Act, is required to apply for a new licence. Individuals who trade up to a maximum of six times per annum (to a total of $2000.00) will be required to obtain a new licence. Employees and representatives who make purchases on behalf of a company that holds a licence are also required to become certified under the new Act.

Retention of Copper

Under the new Act copper has been classified as an article, seperating it from 'scrap metals'. All articles are required to be tagged and retained in their original form for 14 days from the date of purchase. However, this only applies to copper purchases with a resale value of over $40.00, and copper which is purchsed from another licensed dealer does not need to be retained.


Further information on the new Act can be found at www.justice.govt.nz or by obtaining a copy of the new Act from your nearest government bookshop. Members are encouraged to contact the Association directly for further information specific to the scrap metal industry, or for assistance with any issues they may be experiencing with the new Act.