Cable scrap is one of the most valuable but most misunderstood scrap streams. Electrical contractors, power utilities, factories, telecom companies and project sites generate large quantities of leftover and replaced cable. Because the metal is hidden under insulation and sometimes armour, sellers often accept whatever rate is offered. Understanding recovery percentage changes that.
Why cable is priced on recovery
A buyer of cable scrap is really buying the copper or aluminium inside. The insulation (PVC, XLPE, rubber), fillers, sheaths and steel armour have little or no value and cost money to remove and dispose of. So buyers price cable as:
Cable value per kg ≈ recovery % × metal rate − processing cost
For example, if a copper cable has 55% copper by weight and the relevant copper grade is worth a certain amount per kg, the cable is worth roughly 55% of that, less the cost of stripping or granulating.
What determines recovery percentage
Conductor size
Thicker conductors have a higher ratio of metal to insulation. A large single-core power cable may have very high recovery, while thin multi-core control cable has much lower recovery.
Number of cores
More cores mean more insulation between conductors, and usually lower recovery per kg.
Insulation type and thickness
High-voltage cables have thick insulation and screening layers, reducing recovery.
Armouring
Steel wire or strip armour adds weight with low value. Armoured cable has lower metal recovery than the same cable unarmoured, although the steel has some ferrous value once separated.
Conductor metal
Copper and aluminium cables are completely different value classes. Never mix them.
Typical recovery ranges
These are indicative only. Actual recovery must be tested.
| Cable type | Indicative metal recovery |
|---|---|
| Large single-core copper power cable | High (often 70%+) |
| Multi-core copper power cable, unarmoured | Medium to high |
| Copper armoured power cable | Medium |
| Copper control and instrumentation cable | Low to medium |
| House wiring (thin copper, PVC) | Medium |
| Telecom cable (thin copper pairs) | Low |
| Aluminium armoured power cable | Medium (aluminium) |
| Aluminium conductor (overhead, bare) | Very high (bare metal) |
How a sample strip test works
- Select representative pieces from different drums or bundles.
- Weigh each sample.
- Strip insulation and armour completely.
- Weigh the recovered metal.
- Calculate recovery % = metal weight ÷ sample weight × 100.
Ask to witness the test, or do it yourself with a few samples before inviting buyers. For mixed lots, test each cable type separately.
Stripping, granulating or selling as-is
Selling as-is: Easiest. The buyer prices recovery and processing cost.
Manual or machine stripping: For large-conductor cable, stripping machines can separate clean copper or aluminium, which then sells at bare metal rates. This makes sense if you have large volumes and labour.
Granulating: Specialised plants chop cable and separate metal from plastic. This is done by processors, not usually sellers.
Burning: Never burn cable. It produces toxic smoke, damages the metal (lowering it to burnt grade), and is illegal in many places. Buyers increasingly refuse burnt material.
Separating the lot for best value
- Copper cable separate from aluminium cable.
- Armoured separate from unarmoured.
- Large power cable separate from thin control and telecom cable.
- Clean cable separate from cable with connectors, glands or lugs attached.
- Cable drums (wooden or steel) separate from cable.
Each category can then be tested and priced properly.
Where cable scrap comes from
- Projects: Leftover lengths and cut pieces after installation.
- Replacements: Old cables removed during upgrades.
- Utilities: Distribution network replacement.
- Factories: Plant modifications and dismantling.
- Telecom: Copper network replacement with fibre.
Project cable leftovers in particular are often new, clean and well-identified, so they deserve a good price.
Pricing methods for regular cable sellers
For contractors or utilities with regular cable scrap, consider:
- MCX-linked rates: Cable priced at recovery % × MCX copper or aluminium × agreed factor.
- Fixed rates per cable type: Agreed after initial testing, reviewed monthly.
- Tender with recovery testing: For large public disposals.
Documentation and tax
Cable scrap is metal scrap for GST purposes, so the October 2024 rules on reverse charge and 2% GST TDS can apply. TCS under the Income Tax Act may also be relevant. Issue proper GST invoices, keep sample test records and weighment slips.
Common mistakes
- Selling all cable at one blended rate.
- Accepting a buyer's recovery figure without testing.
- Burning insulation.
- Mixing copper and aluminium.
- Leaving cable in the open, where theft is common.
A worked example: valuing a mixed cable lot
An electrical contractor finishes a factory project in Gurugram and collects about 3 tonnes of leftover and removed cable:
| Cable type | Weight | Test recovery | Metal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1C × 240 sq mm copper power cable (unarmoured) | 900 kg | ~75% | Copper |
| 4C × 25 sq mm copper armoured | 1,100 kg | ~45% | Copper (+ steel armour) |
| Control cable, multi-core thin copper | 500 kg | ~30% | Copper |
| 3.5C × 185 sq mm aluminium armoured | 500 kg | ~50% | Aluminium |
Sold as one "mixed cable" lot, a buyer would price conservatively, probably near the lowest recovery. Tested and sold by type, the large single-core cable alone carries a high share of the total value. The steel armour from the armoured cable can also be sold separately as light ferrous scrap after stripping. Testing four samples took less than an hour and changed the value of the lot significantly.
Cable storage and security tips
- Store cable drums and cut lengths in a locked, covered area.
- Mark drums with cable type, size and approximate length.
- Keep copper and aluminium cable in separate stacks.
- Record weights when cable enters the scrap store.
- Avoid leaving cable at open project sites after work ends; theft is common.
Cable scrap checklist
- Separate copper from aluminium, armoured from unarmoured.
- Identify cable size and cores for each lot.
- Strip and weigh samples to estimate recovery.
- Ask buyers for recovery-based written quotes.
- Weigh at a certified weighbridge.
- Never burn insulation.
- Keep invoices, test records and slips together.
Cable scrap glossary
- Conductor: The copper or aluminium core that carries current; the valuable part.
- Insulation: PVC, XLPE or rubber covering each conductor.
- Sheath: The outer protective layer over all cores.
- Armour: Steel wire or strip around the cable for mechanical protection; lowers metal recovery.
- Core: One insulated conductor; cables can be single-core or multi-core.
- Recovery: The percentage of metal by weight in the cable.
- Granulation: Chopping cable and separating metal from plastic in a processing plant.
- Bare bright: Clean, stripped copper wire, the highest-value copper grade (ISRI Barley).
Cable selling sequence that works
Start by separating copper from aluminium, then armoured from unarmoured, then thick power cable from thin control and telecom cable. Weigh each group, strip two or three samples from each, and calculate recovery. Share these numbers with buyers along with photos. Buyers who see that you understand recovery quote more competitively, and negotiations become a discussion about the metal price rather than guesswork about what is inside the cable.
Cable scrap from projects versus replacements
Leftover cable from new projects is usually clean, labelled and easy to test, so it attracts the best recovery-based rates. Cable removed during replacements is often dirty, cut into short pieces and mixed in type, so it needs more sorting before sale. Keeping project leftovers separate from replacement cable, and recording drum labels before they are lost, preserves value for the cleaner material.
How Kabadi24 buys cable scrap
Kabadi24 buys copper and aluminium cable scrap from contractors, utilities and factories across India through our marketplace, with on-ground teams in Varanasi, Purvanchal and Gurugram. We sort cable by type, conduct sample strip tests in front of the seller, quote recovery-based rates in writing, and weigh at certified weighbridges. Sellers can list cable lots on the marketplace for buyers across the country, including granulators and refiners.
Conclusion
Cable scrap rewards sellers who understand recovery. Separate by metal and type, test samples, avoid burning, and insist on recovery-based written quotes. A few hours of preparation can add substantially to the value of every lot.