How to Recycle #2 Copper Wire
Insulated copper wire, including household Romex, THHN, extension cords, car harness wire, and low-voltage data cable. Yards price insulated wire by its estimated copper recovery percentage rather than one flat rate, so the same pound can pay from about $0.36 to $4+ depending on gauge and insulation ratio. Strip only when the extra copper pays for your time.
Quick answer
Strip thick wire, sell thin cable as is. Bare bright copper pays $5.57 per pound (site average, September 2026), while Romex sold with insulation pays about $2.80. Romex is 64-68% copper, so 100 lb stripped earns about $76-$99 more than 100 lb sold as is. THHN (74-78% copper, $3.71 per pound) gains only $41-$63 per 100 lb, and Cat5/6 cable and Christmas lights have too little copper per pound of labor to justify stripping. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
- Recycling code
- #2 ICW
- Typical value
- Site averages, updated September 2026: bare bright copper $5.57/lb, #2 copper wire and tubing $5.24, THHN $3.71, Romex (12/2) $2.80, and #1 copper tubing $5.21. Yards grade insulated wire by copper recovery. Rockaway Recycling (NJ, Sept 29, 2026) pays $2.05 for Cat5/6 (45-50% copper), $2.90 for Romex (64-68%), $3.75 for THHN (74-78%), and $4.05 for insulated cable (84-88%). Paz Metals (PA, Aug 14, 2026) pays $1.15 for 45-50% wire, $1.75 for 80% wire, $1.50 for Romex, $1.07 for communication wire, and $0.36 for Christmas lights. Yards differ widely, so call two.
How to Prepare
- 1Cut off plugs, steel connectors, and metal boxes. Attached steel and brass drop the price
- 2Sort by type: Romex and heavy THHN, thin cable such as Cat5/6, car harness wire, and aluminum wire each carry a different price
- 3Time yourself on one 10-lb batch. Divide the extra dollars from stripping by your hours to see whether it beats selling the wire as is
- 4Strip thick wire (Romex, THHN, heavy building wire) if you have a large load. Clean, uncoated bare bright copper earns the top rate
- 5Sell thin, low-yield wire (Cat5/6, small cords, Christmas lights) with the insulation on
- 6Keep bare copper, insulated wire, and aluminum wire in separate piles, and pull magnetic pieces out with a magnet
- 7Bring a photo ID. State scrap laws require yards to record sellers, and details vary, so call your yard
Where to Recycle
- Scrap metal dealers
- Electrical contractors
- Recycling centers
Environmental Impact
Even sold insulated, copper wire recycling reduces the impact of mining new copper.
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
- EPA: Recycle common materials, including metal
- Rockaway Recycling: scrap metal prices (NJ, Sept 29, 2026)
- Paz Metals: scrap prices (PA, Aug 14, 2026)
- ReMA: Scrap Specifications Circular (industry grade definitions)
- Scrap Specifications Circular, copper wire and heavy copper grades (PDF copy)
- iScrap App: scrap metal laws by state (seller ID and record rules)
Donation & Take‑Back Options
Estimated value: Site averages, updated September 2026: bare bright copper $5.57/lb, #2 copper wire and tubing $5.24, THHN $3.71, Romex (12/2) $2.80, and #1 copper tubing $5.21. Yards grade insulated wire by copper recovery. Rockaway Recycling (NJ, Sept 29, 2026) pays $2.05 for Cat5/6 (45-50% copper), $2.90 for Romex (64-68%), $3.75 for THHN (74-78%), and $4.05 for insulated cable (84-88%). Paz Metals (PA, Aug 14, 2026) pays $1.15 for 45-50% wire, $1.75 for 80% wire, $1.50 for Romex, $1.07 for communication wire, and $0.36 for Christmas lights. Yards differ widely, so call two.
FAQs
Is it worth stripping copper wire before selling?
On thick wire, yes: 100 lb of Romex earns about $76-$99 more stripped at the $5.57 bare bright rate than sold as is at $2.80 (September 2026). Divide that gain by your stripping time. If 100 lb takes 2 hours, you earn about $38-$50 an hour, and at 4 hours about $19-$25. THHN gains less, about $41-$63 per 100 lb, and thin cable and Christmas lights are not worth the labor.
How much is copper wire worth per pound?
Bare bright copper pays $5.57 per pound, #2 copper $5.24, THHN $3.71, and Romex $2.80 (site averages, September 2026). Thin data cable and Christmas lights pay far less, $0.36-$2.05 per pound depending on the yard.
What is the difference between #1 and #2 copper?
#1 copper is clean, uncoated copper with no paint or heavy corrosion: bare bright wire, or tubing with no solder and nothing inside. #2 copper has paint, solder, small brass joints, or other material attached, and pays a little less, $5.24 versus $5.57 per pound for bare bright.
Why do copper wire prices vary so much between yards?
Yards grade insulated wire by the percentage of copper recovered, and each yard sets its own board. In our September check, Romex paid $2.90 per pound at Rockaway Recycling (64-68% copper) and $1.50 at Paz Metals. Call two yards and ask how each grades your wire.
How can I check that it's really copper?
Use a magnet: real copper won't stick. If the wire is magnetic, it's copper-plated steel and worth far less. A small scratch should also show bright copper-colored metal underneath, not silver.
Recycle #2 copper wire
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