(a) No person, firm or corporation shall establish, operate or maintain a motor vehicle recycler’s yard or motor vehicle recycler’s business unless a certificate of approval of the location to be used therefor has been procured from the board or authority designated by local charter, regulation or ordinance in the town, city or borough wherein such yard or business is located or is proposed to be located, except that in any town or city having a zoning commission, combined planning and zoning commission and a board of appeals, such certificate shall be obtained from the board of appeals.

      (b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to: (1) Any public agency, as defined in section 7-339a, which acquires, collects, dismantles or disposes of junk or abandoned motor vehicles pursuant to a program of solid waste disposal, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 446d and the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, concerning the operation of motor vehicle recycler’s yards, provided this exemption shall not apply to any public agency which sells or distributes or exchanges for profit motor vehicle parts for reuse as such, and provided further, such public agency shall designate an employee to maintain accurate records of all motor vehicles received and processed. Such records shall include the make, year, serial number and, if available, the name and address of the person from whom each vehicle was received. A list containing the make, year and serial number of each such motor vehicle shall be sent to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles on or before the last day of the month following the month during which such disposal occurred; or (2) any intermediate processor operating at a licensed facility, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. “Intermediate processor” means any person, firm or corporation which dismantles, crushes or otherwise conditions junk or abandoned motor vehicles or parts thereof for delivery to a scrap metal processor as defined in section 14-67w, or for disposal in any other manner permitted by law, and which does not sell automobile parts for reuse as parts; provided all such junk or abandoned motor vehicles or parts thereof shall, at the time of such dismantling, crushing or conditioning, be owned by or in the custody of, and located on premises of or maintained by the holder of a motor vehicle recycler’s license issued pursuant to section 14-67l, or by a public agency exempted under this subsection.