How to Efficiently Handle Cables?

Guess what? One ton of used power cables can yield about 700 kilograms of copper. That copper alone, at current prices, is worth tens of thousands of yuan. And that’s not all—the outer plastic sheath, if processed properly, can also be sold. So, this isn’t just waste, it’s a lucrative business opportunity.

The Old Methods Are No Longer Valid

Previously, many people disposed of waste cables by simply burning the plastic sheath and selling the remaining copper wire for profit. Now, this method is both environmentally polluting and unprofitable, and is no longer advisable. Using modern recycling equipment is the most efficient way to recycle cables.

Sorting And Recycling

Cables are classified into many types, and different types require different recycling methods.

Method 1: Stripping Method

Applicable to: Thick cables, high-voltage cables, and high-value specialty cables (such as copper or aluminum cables thicker than a finger).

Operation Method: Directly peel off the outer sheath using wire strippers, a knife, or a small manual/electric stripper.

✅Advantages: Copper and aluminum are preserved in the best condition, fetching the highest price; the plastic sheath is also clean and easy to recycle.

❌️Disadvantages: Low efficiency and high labor costs.

Suitable for small quantities of high-value materials.

Method 2: Mechanical Crushing and Sorting

Applicable Objects: The most common mixed waste cables, especially communication cables and appliance dismantling cables of various specifications containing both plastic and metal.

Operation Method:

Crushing: Use a cable shredder to cut the entire bundle of cables into small pieces the size of a fingernail.

Sorting: Separate metals and plastics based on their physical properties.

Common methods include:

Airflow sorting: Utilizing weight differences, air blows away lighter plastics, while heavier metals fall.

Electrostatic sorting: Utilizing differences in conductivity, under a high-voltage electric field, metals and plastics flow towards different collection tanks.

Water flow gravity sorting: Utilizing density differences, separating them in water.

✅Advantages: High efficiency, environmentally friendly, highly automated, capable of large-scale processing, metal recovery rate can reach over 99%, and no pollution is generated.

❌️Disadvantages: High equipment investment, suitable for specialized recycling plants.

Currently the most recommended mainstream environmentally friendly recycling method.

Method 3: Cryogenic Freezing

Suitable for: Extremely thin cables (such as automotive wiring harnesses, headphone cables), or cables with particularly brittle plastic sheaths.

Procedure: Deep-freeze the cable (e.g., using liquid nitrogen) to make the plastic sheath extremely brittle. Then, use mechanical crushing or vibration to break the plastic into powder, thus separating it from the internal metal wires.

✅Advantages: Highly efficient at handling thin wires that are difficult to separate mechanically.

❌️Disadvantages: High energy consumption, high cost; a specialized method.

Used for processing special cables.

Finished Product

Two things came out:

Copper granules/aluminum granules: over 99% purity, steel mills are scrambling to get them.

Plastic granules: can be used to make low-grade plastic products.

Professional recycling requires professional methods and equipment. If you’re struggling with how to dispose of waste cables, feel free to contact Gomine. We have various types of waste cable recycling equipment and are confident we can satisfy your needs！