Cable & Motor Scrap Prices and Buying Guide Rates

If you are clearing out an industrial site, upgrading machinery, or stripping household wiring, knowing current scrap cable and electric motor prices ensures you don't undersell your materials. This guide breaks down the exact per-kilogram payouts for copper wire, PVC cables, and electric motors, helping contractors and businesses maximize their recycling profits.

• Average payouts: Clean stripped copper wire fetches up to R155 per kilogram, while whole electric motors average between R12 and R18 per kilogram.
• Materials accepted: We buy high-grade PVC cable, low-grade household wiring, industrial electric motors, alternators, and starter motors.
• Legal requirements: law strictly regulates copper trading. Sellers must provide a valid ID and proof of address to combat cable theft.
• Service areas: Our commercial scrap collection covers and the wider industrial zone.
• Payment methods: All payouts for copper cables and motors are processed securely via EFT directly into your bank account.

Average Scrap Cable and Motor Prices per Kilogram (2026)

Scrap cable pricing depends entirely on the copper recovery rate. A thick industrial cable yields more copper than thin household wiring, meaning we pay a higher rate per kilogram. Electric motors are priced based on the ratio of valuable copper windings inside the heavy ferrous metal casing.

Below is a clear breakdown of what you can expect to earn from different types of cables and motors at our yard.

Bright bare copper wire (often referred to as Millberry) commands the highest scrap metal prices, typically selling for between R140 and R155 per kilogram. Leaving the PVC insulation on the wire reduces the price significantly because we must cover the labor and machinery costs to strip it.

Factors Influencing Scrap Cable and Motor Prices

Global economic conditions directly dictate local pricing. Industrial growth in major economies drives demand for the non-ferrous metals found inside cables and electric motors.

The London Metal Exchange (LME)

Copper is a globally traded commodity. When global construction booms, the LME copper index rises, and here we immediately adjust our purchasing prices upward. Conversely, economic downturns reduce the demand for raw copper and steel, causing electric motor scrap rates to drop.

Preparation and Copper Recovery Rates

The condition in which you present your scrap heavily influences your final payout. If you deliver a whole electric motor, we pay a blended rate for the steel casing and the internal copper. However, if you manually dismantle the motor and separate the clean copper windings from the ferrous metal housing, you can sell the copper at a premium rate in line with today's copper scrap prices.

Common Types of Cables and Motors Recycled

Electrical contractors and demolition companies frequently generate diverse types of wiring and machinery scrap. Proper sorting separates high-value non-ferrous metals from basic steel.

• High-Grade PVC Cables: Thick industrial power cables and heavy-duty welding leads with a high copper-to-plastic ratio.
• Low-Grade Cables: Cat5 network cables, extension cords, and appliance wiring containing thin copper strands.
• Aluminium Cables: Overhead power lines and secondary distribution cables made from aluminium rather than copper.
• Electric Motors: Standard induction motors from factory machinery, pool pumps, and HVAC units.
• Automotive Motors: Alternators and starter motors pulled from end-of-life vehicles.

Where to Sell Scrap Cables and Motors

forms the core of the 's metal recycling industry. We purchase redundant cables and electric motor scrap from electrical contractors, demolition teams, and factories across the region, making it simple to sell electric motors and cables in bulk.

Local Delivery to Our Yard

If you are an electrician working on a site or, you can bring stripped wiring and old motors directly to our yard. We use calibrated digital scales to weigh your PVC wire and bright copper separately, ensuring accurate compensation based on current market rates.

Commercial Scrap Pickup Services

Heavy electric motors and massive spools of industrial cable require specialized transport. We provide commercial scrap metal collection services for industrial zones including,.

When a factory upgrades its conveyor belts or manufacturing equipment, it generates tonnes of electric motor scrap. We supply the lifting equipment, heavy-duty transport, and skip bins necessary to remove these heavy ferrous and non-ferrous metals directly from your site.

Legal Compliance and Cable Theft Prevention

Cable theft is a critical issue affecting infrastructure. As a licensed scrap metal recycling facility, we adhere strictly to the Second-Hand Goods Act to prevent the trade of stolen copper.

We do not pay cash for copper cables. All transactions involving high-grade PVC wire, stripped copper, and electric motors are processed via EFT. Sellers must present a valid ID, proof of address, and, where applicable, company registration documents or a demolition permit confirming the legal origin of the materials.

Tips for Maximizing Your Scrap Payout

Preparing your materials before visiting our yard guarantees a higher return on your investment, and you can estimate your load with our calculator before you arrive.

First, strip your cables. Using a mechanical wire stripper to remove the PVC insulation from thick industrial cables upgrades your material from "High-Grade PVC" to "Millberry Copper," effectively doubling your price per kilogram.

Second, sort your metals meticulously. Never mix aluminium cables with copper cables in the same bin. If we find low-value aluminium mixed into a bin of copper wire, the entire batch may be downgraded to a mixed pricing tier, costing you significant profit.

Frequently asked questions

Why is stripped copper wire worth more than PVC cable?

Stripped wire provides pure copper that is ready for immediate melting at a foundry. PVC-coated cable requires us to spend time, labor, and machinery costs to separate the plastic insulation from the metal core, which reduces the purchase price.

Do you buy burnt copper wire?

Yes, but burnt copper wire fetches a lower price than bright bare copper. Burning cables to remove insulation degrades the metal, leaving a carbon residue that decreases its purity. Furthermore, burning PVC cables is illegal due to severe environmental and health hazards.

How do you calculate the price of an electric motor?

Electric motors are priced based on their average copper recovery yield. Because a motor is primarily composed of a heavy steel casing and an iron core, the highly valuable copper windings only make up about 10% to 15% of the total weight. The price we pay reflects this blended metal ratio.

Will you collect scrap motors from my factory?

Yes. We offer commercial pickup services for bulk loads of electric motor scrap and industrial cables, and the greater area.