How to recycle electrical cables？

The recycling and processing of waste cables is a crucial step in resource recycling. It reduces the waste of metal resources and minimizes environmental pollution. Through professional recycling processes and specialized cable wire recycling machines, waste cables undergo multiple processes including collection, sorting, dismantling, and separation to efficiently extract metals such as copper, aluminum, and iron. The recycled metals can then be reused in production, achieving both economic and environmental benefits.

Collection by Sorting

First, waste cables are collected. These cables mainly come from power companies, scrap metal recycling stations, construction sites, and households. After collection, workers will initially sort them according to their material, diameter, and intended use. It is important to note that copper core cables and aluminum core cables must be sorted separately due to their significantly different economic values. It is also crucial to be vigilant about impurities such as dirt, oil, and screws mixed in with the waste cables. Proper sorting directly impacts the efficiency and profitability of subsequent recycling.

Stripping and Sorting

The outer layer of the cable is wrapped with a plastic or rubber insulation layer. Our goal is to separate the insulation layer from the inner metal conductor. Previously, this was done manually using blades, which was inefficient and unsafe. Now, advanced cable wire recycling machines can handle cables of different diameters. Special blades cut open the outer layer, and rollers separate the metal and plastic. For thin cables, such as communication lines and telephone lines, crushing, gravity, and airflow methods are used: first, the waste cables and wires are crushed into granules; then, wind and gravity separate the lightweight plastic and heavy metal particles. The entire process results in high purity recycling, facilitating subsequent smelting and recycling.
 

Metal Smelting and Plastic Granulation

The cable and wire recycling machine separates copper or aluminum particles. The metal particles can be sold directly to metal smelters for refining, producing electrolytic copper or aluminum ingots, which can then be reused in new cables, motors, and other products. The separated plastic insulation layer is then washed, crushed, and melted to produce plastic granules. These plastic granules can be used to produce cable sheaths, plastic pipes, packaging materials, etc.

The above outlines the waste cable recycling process. Compared to traditional dismantling methods, modern advanced recycling technology combines physical crushing with chemical separation, achieving a metal extraction rate of over 96%. This refined recycling process not only reduces pressure on mineral extraction but also lowers energy consumption and carbon emissions from metal smelting. Statistics show that recycling 1 ton of waste cable can save approximately 3 tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 7 tons.

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