Metal recycling
How to Recycle #2 Copper Wire
Insulated copper wire including household wire and extension cords.
Recyclable#2 ICWInsulated #2 copper wire pays roughly $1.50–$2.80 per pound depending on copper recovery; stripping it to bare bright copper raises it to about $5.00–$5.50/lb (June 2026).Updated Jun 2026
Quick answer
Yes, #2 copper wire (insulated or lightly tarnished copper) is valuable scrap. Strip the insulation to turn it into bare bright copper worth far more, and keep it free of steel and connectors before selling to a scrap yard. As of June 2026, stripped bare-bright copper pays about $5.00–$5.50/lb versus roughly $1.50–$2.80/lb for wire left insulated.
- Recyclable
- Yes
- Recycling code
- #2 ICW
- Typical value
- Insulated #2 copper wire pays roughly $1.50–$2.80 per pound depending on copper recovery; stripping it to bare bright copper raises it to about $5.00–$5.50/lb (June 2026).
How to Prepare
- 1Remove steel connectors and attachments
- 2
