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Everything you need to know about recycling electrical cables
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Learn more about recycling electrical cables
How to recycle electrial cables
Most scrap metal recyclers will accept all types of metal electrical cables. This service can be provided through a collection box on-site or drop-off points at the facility. Metal recyclers will pay market price for the metal contained within the electrical cables. E-waste recyclers will also accept electrical cables for recycling through both collection and drop-off services. Use the directory on this page to find a recycler near you.
Why recycle?
Electrical cables are generally composed of a metal conductor inner housed in a plastic insulation. Recycling cables aids in the resource recovery of both the metal and the plastic outer for reuse. The most common metals used are copper and aluminium. When recycled these metals don’t degrade which means they can be recycled over and over. Using recycled metals results in a reduction of emissions compared to producing them from raw materials. Copper, aluminium and oil (from which plastic is derived) are all finite resources, so recycling helps preserve our natural resources.
What happens to them?
Recycling plants will granulate and then separate the metal from the plastic insulation. Using this process, the plastic is removed and the copper, aluminium or other metals present are separated magnetically for recycling. These metals are then smelted for reuse in new metal products. Similarly the plastic is melted and extruded for reuse.
