In the process of upgrading power transmission, communication networks, and industrial equipment, a large amount of waste wires and cables are generated. In the past, these "retired" cables were often regarded as useless waste and discarded at will, but in fact, they contain considerable recycling value—not only can they generate economic benefits, but also promote resource recycling and reduce environmental pollution. It is an important field that balances economic and ecological benefits.

I. Economic Value: Precious Metal Extraction Spurs the "Waste-to-Wealth Economy"

The core economic value of waste wires and cables lies in the metal conductors inside them. Whether it is common copper-core cables, aluminum-core cables, or silver-alloy cables used in high-end equipment, the metal content accounts for 40%-70% of the total weight of the cables. Taking the most widely used copper-core cables as an example, after professional dismantling and sorting, one ton of waste copper cables can yield 600-800 kilograms of pure copper. Currently, the market price of pure copper is stable at around 50,000 yuan per ton, so the recycling of copper resources alone can create direct benefits of 30,000-40,000 yuan per ton of waste cables.

Beyond the value of metals, the plastic and rubber sheaths on the outer layer of cables also have recycling value. These polymer materials can be processed into plastic pellets and recycled rubber products through crushing and melt reshaping, which are then used in the production of pipes, building materials, insulation accessories, etc.—further reducing recycling costs and increasing economic returns. Today, professional recycling enterprises have adopted an integrated processing model of "metal extraction + plastic recycling," enabling a comprehensive profit of over 40,000 yuan per ton of waste wires and cables and forming a mature industrial chain of "turning waste into commodities."

II. Resource Value: Alleviating the Pressure of Scarce Mineral Resources

Metal minerals are non-renewable resources, and their mining and smelting processes consume extremely high energy. Taking copper as an example, to produce one ton of pure copper from copper ore mining to smelting, 200 tons of ore are consumed, and a large amount of wastewater and waste gas are emitted. In contrast, recycling copper from waste cables consumes only 10% of the energy required for primary copper smelting, reduces water consumption by more than 90%, and achieves a copper recovery rate of over 95%, almost realizing "full-volume regeneration."

China is a major consumer of metal resources. In 2024, copper consumption exceeded 14 million tons, but the self-sufficiency rate of domestic copper ore is less than 20%, relying heavily on imports. Similar resource gaps exist for metals such as aluminum and silver. As an important resource in "urban mines," waste wires and cables can recover more than 800,000 tons of copper and over 500,000 tons of aluminum annually—equivalent to reducing 160 million tons of copper ore mining and 30 million tons of bauxite consumption. This provides crucial support for alleviating the shortage of domestic mineral resources and ensuring the security of the industrial chain and supply chain.

III. Environmental Value: A "Green Defense Line" Against Pollution

If waste wires and cables are randomly discarded or incinerated, they will cause severe environmental harm: the outer plastic and rubber sheaths are difficult to degrade in the natural environment, leading to long-term pollution of soil and water sources; heavy metal ions released by rusted metal conductors may seep into groundwater, threatening ecosystems and human health; while incineration can remove plastic casings, it produces toxic gases such as dioxins and sulfur dioxide, exacerbating air pollution.

Professional recycling, however, can block the pollution chain from the source: metal conductors are recycled without pollution through physical sorting and cyanide-free smelting technology; plastic sheaths are regenerated via environmentally friendly processes to avoid "white pollution"; the entire recycling process produces almost no wastewater or waste gas, and the amount of pollutants generated is less than 5% of that from random disposal. It is estimated that standardized recycling of 1 million tons of waste wires and cables annually can reduce 3 million tons of solid waste landfilling and cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 2 million tons—equivalent to the ecological benefit of planting 110 million trees.

Conclusion

The recycling of waste wires and cables has long transcended the single scope of "waste utilization" and become an important link connecting economic benefits, resource protection, and ecological environmental protection. With the upgrading of recycling technologies (such as the application of intelligent dismantling equipment and green smelting processes) and the strengthening of policy support (such as the construction of "zero-waste cities" and subsidy policies for renewable resources), the recycling of waste cables will unlock greater value in the future and inject more "green momentum" into sustainable development.