Every piece of electronic equipment comes with at least one cable, and many come with several. Over the years, tangled masses of power cords, USB cables, Ethernet cables, HDMI leads, and charging cables accumulate in drawers, boxes, and behind desks. They are easy to ignore but collectively represent a significant volume of recyclable material that should not end up in landfill.
Why Cables Are Worth Recycling
Cables might look simple, but they are essentially copper wrapped in plastic, and copper is one of the most valuable and recyclable metals in the world. The copper content in cables makes them genuinely worth recycling, not just from an environmental perspective but from a resource recovery standpoint.
A typical office might accumulate 10 to 20 kilograms of cables over a few years. The copper content varies by cable type: power cables are typically 50-60% copper by weight, Ethernet cables (Cat5e/Cat6) are roughly 30-40% copper, HDMI and display cables contain copper plus other metals, and USB cables have a lower copper percentage but still contain recoverable materials.
Beyond copper, cables contain aluminium (in some power cables and coaxial cables), steel (in armoured cables), and various plastics that can sometimes be recycled depending on the polymer type.
Types of Cables and How to Handle Them
Power Cables and Extension Leads
Standard power cables (IEC C13/C14 connectors, the type used on computers and monitors) are highly recyclable. They contain substantial copper conductors and can be processed through standard cable recycling channels. Extension leads and power boards can be recycled the same way, though remove any batteries from surge-protected power boards before recycling.
Data Cables (USB, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet)
Data cables are thinner and contain less copper per metre than power cables, but they are still worth recycling. USB cables, HDMI cables, DisplayPort cables, and VGA cables all contain copper conductors and can go through standard e-waste recycling. Ethernet cables (particularly Cat6 and Cat6a) are often overlooked but represent a significant volume in commercial environments where hundreds of metres of structured cabling may be pulled out during a fit-out.
Fibre Optic Cables
Fibre optic cables contain glass fibres rather than copper, which makes them less valuable for materials recovery. However, the connectors on fibre cables often contain metal components, and the cable jackets are recyclable plastic. Fibre cables should still go through e-waste recycling rather than general waste.
Coaxial Cables
Coaxial cables (used for TV antennas, CCTV, and older network installations) contain a copper or copper-clad steel centre conductor, copper or aluminium braided shield, and plastic insulation. The metal content makes them worth recycling.
Structured Cabling (Building Wiring)
If you are pulling out structured cabling during an office renovation or data centre decommission, the volumes can be substantial. Hundreds of metres of Cat5e or Cat6 cable, along with patch panels, wall plates, and cable trays, represent a meaningful quantity of recyclable copper. Coordinate with your cabling contractor to ensure the removed cabling goes to a recycler rather than a skip bin.
Where to Recycle Cables
E-waste recyclers and ITAD providers accept cables as part of their standard e-waste streams. If you are already disposing of other IT equipment, include your cable collection in the same pickup. Many providers are happy to take cables alongside equipment at no additional charge because the copper content has recovery value.
Scrap metal dealers will accept large quantities of copper cable and pay by weight. This can be a practical option for commercial quantities from office fit-outs or data centre decommissions. The price you receive depends on copper market rates and the grade of cable (thicker, higher-copper-content cables fetch better prices).
Council e-waste drop-off points accept cables at transfer stations alongside other e-waste. This is the simplest option for small household quantities.
Retailer programs at some electronics stores accept old cables for recycling, though this varies by retailer and location.
Preparing Cables for Recycling
Cable recycling does not require much preparation, but a few simple steps help:
Sort by type if possible. Separating power cables from data cables from coaxial cables makes processing easier and may get you a better rate from scrap dealers. That said, most e-waste recyclers will accept mixed cables without complaint.
Coil cables loosely. Do not spend time untangling every cable. A loose coil or bundle held with a cable tie is fine. Recyclers have machinery for processing cable regardless of how it arrives.
Remove any batteries or electronic components. If a cable has an inline power adapter, transformer, or battery pack, remove it and recycle it separately as e-waste.
Do not strip the insulation. Some people assume stripping cables to expose bare copper will increase their recycling value. In practice, most recyclers prefer intact cables because they use industrial cable granulators that separate copper from plastic far more efficiently than hand stripping. The exception is if you have very large quantities and a scrap dealer who specifically pays a premium for bare bright copper.
The Business Case for Cable Recycling
For businesses, cable recycling is often an afterthought, but the volumes can be surprising. A typical office fit-out generates several hundred metres of structured cabling that gets pulled out and replaced. Data centre decommissions can involve kilometres of cabling. Even ongoing operations generate a steady stream of retired patch leads, power cables, and peripheral cables.
Setting up a dedicated cable collection bin in your IT area or server room makes it easy to accumulate cables between disposal events rather than losing them to general waste. Once you have a reasonable volume, arrange collection through your regular e-waste recycler.
For more on how responsible disposal fits into the broader sustainability picture, see our guide to the circular economy and electronics.
EWV helps Victorian businesses manage e-waste and IT asset disposal compliantly and sustainably — including collection, certified data destruction, and recycling. Contact us for a free quote.