Scrap must be identifiable as waste or debris from manufacturing or end-of-life use — irregular shapes, mixed alloy content, and evidence of prior use are typical indicators. Material that has been remelted and cast into a defined primary form (cathode, ingot, pellet) is no longer scrap and would be classified as unwrought nickel. Documentation such as a mill certificate or scrap dealer's declaration helps support the classification.

Nickel scrap shipments may be subject to Basel Convention controls in the exporting country, particularly when the material is destined for recycling in a non-OECD country. In the US, EPA regulations on hazardous waste exports can apply depending on the scrap's composition. Importers and exporters should verify both the US entry requirements and the origin country's export licensing rules before shipping.