What's My Scrap Cable Worth?

Recycling Scrap Cable: Maximising Value and Managing Risk

Scrap copper cable is an important material within the secondary metals market. Found in some form across every sector of UK Industry, either in production or infrastructure. Copper demand and the associated values are often used as an indicator of broader economic trends.

Copper Cable Values

Almost everything manufactured in the world involves the use on copper in some way. Whether as a component part, or as an element of the production or delivery element.

The value of scrap copper cable is driven primarily by its copper content and the degree of processing required to separate that copper from other components. This is also true for aluminium cables

The achievable price for cable grades can vary enormously. A single cored cable with no armoured shielding and a single insulation layer will achieve a far higher price per tonne than a multi-cored, steel insulated cable of the same diameter. Similarly, an aluminium-copper cable will have a significantly reduced value compared with a copper only cable. Scrap markets usually make an initial grading by copper & aluminium % . Heavy power supply cable will generally have a higher content than IT cable. Other factors effecting values include the presence of armouring, insulation type, and the presence of any plugs, connections or fittings.

Cable grades used by recyclers can be confusing. Descriptions include 'low-grade/high-grade', 'multi-core', 'household, (wiring) 'looms', the now redundant 'VIR,' and even 'verdigris'. It is important for sellers to know exactly what they are offering into the market to ensure that maximum revenue is achieved.

As with most scrap metal arisings, material from regular production is far easier to assess than that sourced from one-off maintenance or refurbishment projects. However, both sources offer opportunity and risk.

Sustainability and Compliance

As well as generating valuable revenue streams, recycling copper requires significantly less energy than primary production and delivers substantial reductions in carbon emissions.

Cable-theft is a significant risk and security needs to be managed effectively.

As with all waste streams, cable scrap requires full duty of care process and records

Light FS can assist clients in optimising the disposal and marketing of scrap copper cable, from initial material assessment through to identifying the most appropriate sales route. By combining market insight with a clear understanding of processing requirements, security risks, and compliance obligations, we can help ensure copper cable is positioned to achieve maximum value while minimising exposure.

Effective copper recycling is not about chasing headline prices—it is about structuring the right solution for each material stream.