Cable, Grade Information
PVC Cable
PVC-insulated copper cable, accepted unstripped. The workhorse of UK electrical installation, generating enormous scrap volumes from rewires and demolition.
Periodic Table Position
History & Interesting Facts
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) became the dominant cable insulation material in the UK from the 1950s, replacing earlier rubber-insulated wiring in new installations. The development of stabilised PVC compounds for cable insulation was a significant advance in electrical engineering, PVC is fire-resistant, flexible, easy to extrude, and cost-effective. By the 1970s, virtually all new domestic and commercial electrical wiring in the UK used PVC insulation, producing the enormous installed base of PVC-insulated copper cable that now generates scrap as properties are rewired. British Standard twin-and-earth cable (commonly known as "flat twin" in the trade) is the most commonly encountered PVC cable scrap. The UK's aging housing stock, with millions of properties containing 30–50 year-old wiring, is a major driver of rewiring activity and the resultant PVC cable scrap.
Historical Uses
PVC cable has been the universal standard for fixed electrical installation in the UK since the 1950s. Domestic wiring for lighting, power sockets, immersion heaters, cookers, and shower circuits all use PVC-insulated copper conductors. Commercial buildings use heavier PVC cable for distribution boards, sub-main cables, and power circuits. Industrial sites use armoured PVC cable for power distribution to machinery, motors, and control panels. Telecommunications (before fibre optic) used multi-pair copper cable with PVC insulation for telephone exchange connections. Data centres and IT installations use PVC-insulated data cable (CAT5e, CAT6) extensively. The automotive industry uses PVC-insulated wiring harnesses in every vehicle, a single car contains 1–2 km of wiring, most with PVC insulation. Without this vast installed base, there would be no consistent PVC cable scrap stream.
Current Uses
PVC cable scrap, sold unstripped, is purchased by scrap yards who then either sell it to specialist cable processing companies or bale it for export. Cable processors use mechanical stripping or granulation machines to separate copper from PVC insulation. The recovered copper (as granules or chopped wire) commands near-bright copper prices and is sold to copper smelters or foundries. The recovered PVC is processed for use as secondary PVC granulate in non-critical applications, though UK PVC recycling infrastructure remains less developed than copper recovery. Some cable is exported to European processing facilities, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands, which have more sophisticated plastic recovery systems. The volume of PVC cable arising from the UK's ongoing domestic rewiring programmes, particularly from social housing improvements and EPC (energy performance certificate) upgrades, is substantial.
Future Possible Uses
The ongoing electrification of transport and heating will substantially increase the volume of copper cable installed in UK buildings and infrastructure over the next decade. EV charging points each require a dedicated circuit, generating new demand for PVC cable installation and future scrap. Heat pumps require power feeds and control wiring. Battery energy storage systems in homes need substantial cabling. Every one of these new installations will eventually become scrap. Meanwhile, the development of halogen-free, low-smoke (LSOH/LSZH) cable compounds is gradually displacing PVC in applications where fire safety is critical, underground railways, tunnels, and high-density public buildings. LSOH cable scrap has different processing characteristics from PVC cable and may eventually create a separate scrap grade. Wireless power transmission technology, if it matures, could theoretically reduce future cable installation volumes, but this remains speculative.
Where Does This Scrap Come From?
PVC cable scrap comes from domestic rewires carried out by electricians when properties change hands, are refurbished, or are upgraded for energy efficiency. Commercial fit-out companies stripping out old offices and retail units generate PVC cable in quantity. Demolition contractors clearing properties before redevelopment accumulate cable from the structural services. Telecoms engineers replacing copper with fibre optic infrastructure pull out lengths of PVC copper cable. Skip hire companies and waste management facilities recover PVC cable from mixed skip loads. The cable must be free from terminals, steel conduit, and non-copper components to achieve the best price. Mixing cable lengths with other materials significantly reduces the per-tonne price paid, so basic sorting before delivery is always worthwhile.
How Is It Remanufactured?
PVC cable is typically processed through granulation at specialist cable processing facilities. Bales of cable are fed into a granulator that shreds the cable into small pieces. Shaking tables and air classifiers separate the copper granules from PVC fragments and other materials based on density differences. Copper granules (typically 95–99% copper after processing) are sold as "granulated copper" to smelters and foundries where they are melted into cathode copper. The separated PVC flake is typically sold as secondary PVC granulate for use in non-critical PVC products, underground ducting, or sent for energy recovery where PVC recycling is not economical. Modern granulation systems recover 97–99% of the copper value from cable, making the process highly efficient. Burning cable to remove insulation is illegal under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and produces oxidised copper worth less than properly stripped wire.
5-Year Price Trend & Forecast
PVC cable scrap prices are determined primarily by the copper price, discounted to reflect the insulation weight and processing cost. Typical copper content in standard twin-and-earth cable is 35–45% by weight, meaning a tonne of PVC cable contains approximately 350–450 kg of copper. Over 2021–2026, as the LME copper price rose from approximately $6,500 to a record $13,842/tonne, PVC cable scrap prices at UK scrap yards increased proportionally. Indicative UK prices for PVC cable have ranged from approximately £700 to £1,800/tonne over this period. Thicker cable (higher copper content per metre) always pays better than thin cable for the same weight. Sellers who strip cable to produce dry bright wire before selling always achieve a significantly better return, typically 2–3× the per-tonne price of unstripped cable.
Note: All scrap yard prices paid by QuickStop Metals are calculated as a percentage of the prevailing LME or spot market price, updated daily. Check today's prices →
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