Certificates were first issued  to scrap metal dealers registered with the attorney general’s office under a new law enacted last year by the Legislature, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Thursday.

So far, one location in Hays registered, Ken Pfeifer Salvage, 1292 Feedlot Rd.

The Scrap Metal Theft Reduction Act requires every “scrap metal dealer” to obtain a registration certificate from the attorney general in order to legally purchase scrap metal in Kansas.

The act was enacted last June.

So far, scrap metal dealers operating in nine locations have completed the registration process. A directory of registered dealers is available at www.ag.ks.gov/scrap-metal.

“Our staff is working hard to efficiently process the registration applications,” Schmidt said. “We encourage all scrap metal dealers in the state to register promptly because the law requiring them to register is now in full force.”

Later this year, the law requires the attorney general to implement a second part of the law that tracks registered dealers’ purchases of scrap metal. The legislature’s purpose of the law was to discourage the theft of copper and other metals by making it more difficult for thieves to sell stolen scrap metal without being caught.

Scrap metal dealers or consumers who have additional questions may call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at (800) 432-2310.