Houston Code of Ordinances § 7-51 Definitions.
Sec. 7-51. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the same meanings as provided in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Applicant means a person who applies for a license required by this article.
Authorized personnel means an individual who has been granted permission to sell material or accept payment in connection with a business to business transaction on behalf of a metal recycler, public utility, manufacturing, industrial, retail or other commercial vendor that generates or sells regulated material in the ordinary course of its business and whose name has been provided in writing from the company and maintained on file with the metal recycler conducting the business to business transaction.
Business to business transaction means a sale or transfer of material between a metal recycler and a company represented by authorized personnel.
Catalytic converter means an exhaust emission control device that reduces toxic gases and pollutants from internal combustion; this includes any material removed from a catalytic converter.
Electronic database means an electronic filing system in which data is organized by fields and records.
Enclosed structure means a building that consists of a roof and solid walls on all sides, with or without windows or doors, that extend from the roof to the floor. The term includes detached trailers or semi-trailers with fully-enclosed cargo space and containers as defined by rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to section 7-53 of this Code.
Fixed location means any building or structure for which a certificate of occupancy has been issued.
Licensee means a person who holds a license to conduct business as a metal recycler and includes the person's agents and employees.
Metal recycler means any person who:
(1) Engages in the business of purchasing aluminum cans or ferrous or nonferrous metals, such as stainless steel alloys, copper cables or steel plates;
(2) Engages in the business of utilizing machinery or equipment for the processing or manufacturing of iron, steel or nonferrous metallic scrap and whose principal product is scrap metal for reuse; or
(3) Operates or maintains a place in which used metal items or scrap metal is purchased, collected or kept for shipment, sale, or transfer to other facilities.
The term does not include secondhand reseller as defined in chapter 7, article VI of this Code.
On-site representative means an individual responsible for the day-to-day operation of the place of business of a metal recycler.
Open storage means keeping, maintaining, or placing processed metal items or scrap metal outside of an enclosed structure for shipment, sale, or transfer to other facilities.
Public transaction means a sale or transfer of material between a metal recycler and an individual selling material on his own behalf. The term does not include any business to business transactions or any transaction involving an individual selling material on behalf of a company.
Regulated material shall have the same meaning as in Chapter 1956 of the Texas Occupations Code.
Scrap metal means a direct product or byproduct of any form of a manufactured, shaped, or processed iron, steel, aluminum, brass, copper, lead, tin, zinc, or other nonferrous material or alloy of materials.
(Ord. No. 2016-964, § 4(Exh. A), 12-7-2016; Ord. No. 2022-341, § 2, 5-4-2022)