Scrapping cable can be confusing. Many types look similar but vary massively in value depending on copper content, insulation and construction.
Below is a simple guide to help you identify common scrap cable types before collection.
Common wiring found in homes, garages and appliances. Usually contains copper, but the value can vary depending on insulation thickness, internal cores and whether the cable is clean or mixed with other materials.
Flat grey domestic wiring commonly used in UK properties for sockets, lighting and general electrical circuits. Very common in rewiring jobs, property refurbishments and household electrical upgrades.
Heavy-duty cable with steel wire protection, often used outdoors, underground and on commercial or industrial installations. It is much tougher than standard cable and is usually found on larger fixed electrical systems.
Thin, flexible cable commonly found on appliances, extension leads, power tools and portable equipment. It often contains fine copper strands, but typically has a lower copper density than heavier fixed wiring cables.
Used for internet, telecoms, alarms and network installations. It can look neat and valuable at a glance, but usually contains much less recoverable copper than standard power cable.
Higher-value insulated cable with a stronger copper content and relatively lighter insulation. Commonly associated with electrical work, trade jobs and cleaner cable loads where copper recovery is better than lower-grade mixed cable.
Household cable is one of the most common types of scrap cable and is regularly found in domestic properties. It often comes from old appliances, internal wiring, garage clearances, shed clear-outs and smaller electrical jobs around the home.
Although it usually contains copper, the value can vary quite a lot depending on the thickness of the insulation, the number of cores inside the cable and whether the load is clean or mixed. Some household cable has a decent copper ratio, while other types carry more plastic than metal.
This type of cable is commonly seen during:
Twin & earth is one of the most recognisable types of domestic cable in the UK. It is usually flat, grey and used for sockets, lighting circuits and general internal wiring in homes and smaller buildings.
It is very commonly removed during rewires, extensions, refurbishments and electrical upgrades. Because it is such a common domestic cable, it is often one of the first cable types people come across when sorting scrap from renovation work.
While it does contain copper, it is still an insulated cable and its value depends on the balance between the metal inside and the outer sheath around it.
Armoured cable, often referred to as SWA, is a much heavier-duty cable designed for protection in tougher environments. It is typically used outdoors, underground, on commercial premises, on industrial sites and in larger fixed installations where the cable needs added strength.
This type of cable usually contains copper conductors as well as steel wire armouring, which makes it very different from lighter domestic cable. Because of that, it is assessed differently and may not carry the same value as cleaner, lighter insulated copper cable.
It is commonly found in:
Important: Some armoured cable may be marked, traceable or clearly linked to a commercial or site installation. Proof of ownership may be required before collection or processing of certain loads in order to remain compliant.
Flex cable is the thinner, more flexible cable commonly found on portable electrical items. It is used on things like appliances, extension leads, office equipment, power tools and general plug-in devices.
Because flex is made to bend more easily, it usually contains finer copper strands rather than the heavier conductors found in fixed wiring. This means it can still contain recoverable copper, but it is usually lighter and less dense than heavier-grade cable.
It is commonly found in:
Flex cable is very common in mixed domestic loads and is often grouped in with general household cable unless it has been sorted out separately.
Data and communication cable includes things like internet cable, telephone cable, alarm cable and network wiring. It often looks neat, tidy and well-organised, which can make it seem more valuable than it really is.
In reality, this type of cable usually contains much less recoverable copper than standard power cable. The copper inside is often very fine and the overall metal content is much lower, which is why it is treated differently from heavier cable types.
It is commonly found in:
Important: Data and communication cables are sometimes marked, labelled or identifiable as part of active or recently removed infrastructure. Where this applies, proof of ownership may be required before collection.
High grade cable is generally considered one of the better-value forms of insulated scrap cable because it has a stronger copper content compared with the weight of insulation around it. It is typically cleaner, more consistent and more copper-rich than lower-grade mixed cable.
This type of cable is often associated with trade work, electrical contractors, site jobs and cleaner sorted loads where the cable has been kept separate from lower-value materials. Because of its copper ratio, it can be much more desirable than mixed or heavily insulated cable.
It is commonly found in:
Important: High grade cable can sometimes come from commercial or industrial settings and may carry markings, labels or other identifiers. In these cases, proof of ownership may be required before collection or recycling.