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Recycling Wires And Cables: What Is The Difference, And Is One More Valuable?

Aug. 06, 2022

It's inevitable that over time, your home electronics and appliances will be replaced or upgraded. The average American replaces their smartphone every two to three years or less for prepaid phones. Computers are on a roughly five-year cycle, laptops slightly less, and tablets in between. Once you're done with them, into the recycling (hopefully) they go.

 

The equipment's associated wires, cords, and cables may get left behind, leaving you wondering what to do with them.

 

If you're like the rest of us, you'll most likely tell yourself "I'll probably need these for something in the future" and shove them away somewhere unseen.

 

But we should stop kidding ourselves. Those cords will remain in our junk closets for longer than any of us want to admit until one day we finally give up and get rid of them during spring cleaning.

 

So once you're ready to stop being tied down by all these loose wires, what do you do?


40mm Cable Peeler

 

It May Sound Surprising, But Wires, Cords, And Cables Are All Recyclable.

 

Okay, but what kinds of wires and cables are actually worth recycling?

 

Most recycling centers will accept these common wires and cables:

 

ㆍPhone cables

ㆍExtension cords & adapters

ㆍElectrical wires

ㆍSpeaker cables

ㆍHome appliance wires

ㆍEthernet cables

ㆍPower cords and chargers

 

All wires and cables contain copper, making them valuable as recycled material.

 

The (Not So) Shocking Difference Between Wires & Cables

 

A wire contains just one line of electrical conduction. You'll usually find wires inside your electronics, electric outlets, and light fixtures, for example. They most often connect electrical components together to conduct a current.


Recycling Wires And Cables: What Is The Difference, And Is One More Valuable?cid=4


A cable is a unified group of wires insulated by plastic or rubber sheathing. Cables are often referred to as cords and are usually found outside a device, such as the power cord for your washing machine or the tail end of a surge protector.

 

The Difference In Value of Wires & Cables

 

All variations of wire and cable contain valuable internal components. But there is a difference between these two types of data-transferring materials, and it usually affects their value.


Since cables consist of groups of wires, they will typically contain more copper. When comparing a wire and cable of the same length, a cable will most likely yield a higher payout when recycling.

 

Why Is Copper So Valuable?

 

ㆍCopper is resistant to corrosion and conducts heat and electricity extremely well, outlasting other conductors.

ㆍCopper is extremely difficult to mine.

It negatively affects the environment surrounding the mining site. Keeping the existing copper in circulation decreases the need for new copper mining, preventing unnecessary and irreversible damage to the environment.

ㆍOnce the wires are removed from their rubber sheath, the copper core is worth more than most other metals. But remember, it takes work to separate the copper from the rubber, so coated wires and cables will be worth a little less than striped ones.

Bonus Tip: the plastic or rubber sheathing around cables is not valuable for recycling. Maximize the return on your wire deposit by stripping the sheathing yourself.

 

So as you're cleaning out your junk drawers, consider recycling that mess of wires and cables! It's an easy way to make some money while doing your part to protect the environment. We are a cable wire recycling machine supplier. If you are interested in our products, please contact us now!

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