Let’s be honest – if you’re a sparky, plumber or builder, chances are there’s a growing pile of tangled scrap cable cluttering up your van, the back of the garage or that one corner of the shed. You tell yourself you’ll sort it out “next weekend”, but next weekend never comes, does it?
Consider this your sign from the scrap gods: it’s time to bring it in, weigh it up and get paid.
Still not convinced? Recycling your scrap cable is a no-brainer – financially, environmentally and for the sake of your sanity. Read on to find out why.
It’s basically free money
You’re already doing the hard graft – installing, stripping out, rewiring, replacing. That leftover cable? That’s not rubbish – it’s cash with insulation on.
Even small amounts of offcuts can add up. Copper-heavy cables like twin and earth or stripped singles hold good value, especially when separated from the lower-grade stuff.
Good to know:
- Copper’s one of the most valuable non-ferrous metals out there.
- A typical domestic rewire can leave you with several kilos of cable offcuts.
- If you’re on multiple jobs a week, it builds up quickly – and regularly recycling it means that waste is earning its keep.
It’s good for the planet (and your conscience)
We’re not saying you need to go full eco-warrior – but chucking perfectly good metal in a skip is a bit of a waste, isn’t it?
Recycling means all that lovely copper and aluminium alloy can go back into new cable, tools, appliances… you name it. Less digging stuff out of the ground, more reusing. And you’re helping reduce landfill waste and carbon emissions, all while getting rewarded for it. Not bad for a quick trip to the scrapyard.
Some quick stats:
- Recycling copper uses up to 85% less energy than extracting it from raw ore.
- Every tonne of copper recycled saves around 400kg of CO₂ emissions.
- The UK is already facing a shortage of copper supply, with demand from construction and renewables outpacing domestic production – so recycled copper is more important than ever.
So, yes – your old cable offcuts really do make a difference.
It keeps everything above board
It might not be the sexiest part of the job, but waste regs are a thing – and as a tradesperson, you have a legal duty to dispose of your waste properly. That fella down the road offering to “take it off your hands” for free? Probably not entirely above board.
A licensed recycling centre (like us) will make sure everything’s handled by the book. You’ll get the right paperwork if you need it – especially useful if you’re working on bigger commercial jobs or sites with compliance checks.
It clears the decks
You know that corner of your van full of cable ends and tangled leads? The one you keep meaning to “deal with”? Yeah – that one. Now’s the time.
Bring it in. We’ll weigh it up, and you’ll leave with a bit more legroom in the back and something in your pocket for the trouble.
Got a larger load from a strip-out or site clearance? Let us know – we can help with bulk drop-offs or even arrange collection where needed.
So… what are you waiting for?
Whether it’s a bucketful of offcuts or a whole drum of leftover cable, we’ll take the lot. Fast weigh-ins, decent prices, no faff.
Turn your scrap cable into something useful – and finally put those offcuts to good use.
If your cable pile’s bigger than your toolbox, it’s probably time for a trip to the yard. Let’s have a chat or bring in your stash to see what it’s worth.