Scrap Value of Electrical & Wiring
Estimated scrap value of common electrical & wiring in Australia. Sorted by value descending. Each entry links to a detailed breakdown showing the metal composition, prep tips, and where to sell.
Electrical scrap is where the real money hides in most loads, because it's where the copper is. Australian domestic wiring, extension leads, transformers, switchboards, and motor windings are all copper-rich, and the difference between selling them as-is versus stripping the insulation can be 40% or more on the same weight. The catch is grade: insulated wire pays a fraction of bare bright copper, so the question is always whether the stripping labour is worth it (for thick cable, almost always; for thin appliance cords, rarely). The items below cover the most common electrical scrap sources in Australian homes and workshops.