Armoured cable sometimes called SWA cable or armored wire appears regularly in professional electrical work. If you’re an electrician, contractor, or facility manager, you’ve handled armoured cable and probably wondered about its recycling value and requirements.

This guide explains armoured cable, its characteristics, recycling value, and why professional recycling makes sense for electricians and contractors.

What Is Armoured Cable?

Armoured cable is electrical cable with protective steel braiding or spiral sheathing around the conductors. This protective layer gives the cable its distinctive appearance and its specialized function.

 

Purpose of Armour

The steel protection serves critical purposes:

Mechanical Protection

• Protects against physical damage
• Resists crushing and impact
• Safeguards conductor integrity
• Extends cable life in harsh environments

 

Environmental Protection

• Outdoor weather exposure
• Underground installations
• Chemical or corrosive environments
• Areas with mechanical stress or hazards

 

Installation Applications

• Run outside buildings
• Buried underground
• Through mechanical hazards
• Industrial facilities with equipment movement

When cable needs physical protection beyond standard insulation, armoured cable is specified.

 

Identifying Armoured Cable

Armoured cable has distinctive characteristics:

Visual Identification

• Visible steel braid or spiral protection, silver or grey colour
• Flexible but robust feeling
• Noticeably heavier than unarmoured cable of similar size
• Distinctive ribbed or segmented appearance

 

Markings

• Often labelled “SWA” Steel Wire Armoured
• Manufacturer markings on cable
• Specification information printed on sheath

 

Feel and Weight

• Obviously heavier than standard cable
• Metal braid is apparent when touched
• Professional grade construction obvious

 

Source

• Outdoor electrical installations
• Underground power distribution
• Industrial facilities
• Mechanical protection environments

 

Types of Armoured Cable

While all armoured cables have steel protection, variations exist:

Steel Wire Armoured SWA

Most common armoured cable type:

• Spiral or braided steel wire protection
• Copper or aluminium conductors
• Various insulation types
• Flexible despite armour

 

Steel Tape Armoured

Less common but similar:

• Continuous steel tape instead of wires
• Slightly different flexibility
• Similar recycling characteristics
• Less common in modern installations

 

Combination Armours

Some cables have:

• Steel armour plus additional sheathing
• Multiple protective layers
• Enhanced durability for extreme environments
• Higher total weight

 

Armoured Cable Recycling Value

Current Price June 2026: £1.60 per kilogram

This price is lower than household cable at £2.60/kg and high grade cable at £3.70/kg, and here is why.

 

Why Armoured Cable Costs Less

Steel Weight Reduces Copper Percentage

Armoured cable’s steel protection adds weight but not copper value. When you have 10 kilograms of armoured cable:

• Approximately 4 kilograms is copper
• Approximately 2 kilograms is steel armour
• Approximately 4 kilograms is insulation and sheathing

The copper content, around 40%, is lower than household cable, around 50%, so per kilogram price reflects this.

 

Processing Differences

The steel armour requires different processing:

• Armour removal
• Copper and steel separation
• Different equipment requirements
• Additional processing steps

Professional facilities handle this efficiently, but the additional process is reflected in pricing.

 

Examples: Armoured Cable Value

• Small Outdoor Installation Removal
  An electrician removing a small outdoor power installation gathers approximately 15 kilograms of armoured cable:
  Calculation: 15 kg × £1.60/kg = £24.00

 

• Industrial Facility System Removal
  A factory removing old external power distribution armoured cable accumulates approximately 100 kilograms:
  Calculation: 100 kg × £1.60/kg = £160.00

 

• Underground Power Distribution Upgrade
  A utility company upgrading underground power distribution removes approximately 500 kilograms of armoured cable:
  Calculation: 500 kg × £1.60/kg = £800.00

 

Why Electricians Should Recycle Armoured Cable

Financial Benefit

While not the highest priced cable, armoured cable still has meaningful value:

• Regular source of material for professional electricians
• Accumulates across multiple projects
• Monthly income from material that would otherwise be waste
• Offsets some disposal costs

 

Environmental Responsibility

Professional recycling demonstrates commitment to sustainable practices:

• Avoids landfill burden
• Recovers valuable copper
• Responsible material handling
• Supports circular economy

 

Professional Standards

Modern electrical industry increasingly emphasises sustainability:

• Clients appreciate environmental responsibility
• Professional standards expect proper waste management
• Green credentials matter to commercial clients
• Demonstrates professional practices

 

Business Efficiency

Establishing recycling process streamlines operations:

• Eliminates disposal cost concern
• Simplifies project cleanup
• Provides income stream from waste material
• Professional appearance through responsible waste handling

 

Handling and Processing Armoured Cable

Before Recycling

Storage:

• Keep armoured cable dry
• Protect from weather exposure
• Bundle loosely, it does not need special care
• Store with other cable materials

 

Preparation:

• Do not strip or remove armour yourself
• Leave cable intact
• Our processing handles armour removal professionally
• Intact cable processes more efficiently

 

Processing at Facility

Our equipment handles armoured cable processing:

1. Assessment, confirm cable type and condition
2. Storage, material held safely until processing
3. Armour Removal, equipment separates steel armour
4. Copper Recovery, copper extracted from conductors
5. Steel Recycling, armour steel separated for secondary recycling
6. Insulation Handling, insulation processed appropriately

Professional processing recovers maximum value from all components.

 

Mixing Cable Types

If you’re accumulating various cable materials:

You can mix:

• Household and armoured cable together
• Different armoured types
• Standard and specialty cables

 

Assessment:

• We identify each type
• Pricing applied per material
• No penalty for mixing
• Efficient processing of mixed loads

Mixing is fine, we sort and assess accurately.

 

For Professional Electricians: Regular Supply Options

If you’re regularly accumulating armoured and other cable materials:

Regular Pickup Arrangements

• Scheduled Collections: Monthly or quarterly pickups
• Account Terms: Simplified invoicing and payment
• Consistent Pricing: Professional rate agreement
• Flexible Timing: Coordination with your schedule

 

Benefits for Regular Suppliers

• Predictable income from accumulated materials
• No storage burden, materials picked up regularly
• Simplified payment process
• Professional relationship with established recycler

Contact us to discuss regular supplier arrangements if you generate consistent cable materials.

 

Comparison: Armoured vs Other Cables

• Household Cable: £2.60/kg, 50% copper
• High Grade Cable: £3.70/kg, 60% copper
• Armoured Cable: £1.60/kg, 40% copper plus steel
• Dry Bright Wire: £8.50/kg, 100% bare copper

Armoured cable’s lower price accurately reflects its composition and processing requirements.

 

FAQ: Armoured Cable Recycling

1. Is there any difference in recycling process between armoured and household cable?
   Yes. Armoured cable requires armour removal before copper recovery. But this does not affect your payment process, we handle processing professionally.
2. Should I remove the steel armour before bringing it in?
   No. Bring intact cable. Our equipment handles armour removal safely and efficiently. Attempting manual removal is unsafe and less efficient.
3. Do different armoured cable types have different values?
   Slightly. SWA, the most common type, is £1.60/kg. Other types might vary slightly based on composition. We assess each type and price appropriately.
4. How much armoured cable should I accumulate before recycling?
   Any amount is welcome. A few kilograms is fine. If you accumulate regularly, arrangements for regular pickup might make sense.
5. Can I mix armoured cable with other cable types when bringing it in?
   Yes. We identify and separate types. All materials are processed and priced correctly.
6. Why is armoured cable less valuable than household cable if it is used in more professional settings?
   Because of composition. The steel armour adds weight but not value. Per kilogram prices reflect genuine copper content and processing requirements.

 

Real World Electrician Example

Sarah is an electrician with her own business. Over a typical month, she:

• Works on various commercial and industrial projects
• Encounters armoured cable regularly, including outdoor installations and underground work
• Accumulates approximately 8 kg of armoured cable
• Also collects some household cable, 15 kg from indoor rewiring

 

Monthly Material:

• 8 kg armoured cable × £1.60 = £12.80
• 15 kg household cable × £2.60 = £39.00
• Monthly Total: £51.80

That is a useful supplement to her business income from material she is already handling as part of her work. Over a year, that is £620+.

For Sarah, material recycling has become automatic, a predictable income source from waste materials.

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