Telecommunications companies like AT&T, BT Group, and Orange are exploring copper recycling as a new revenue stream as they transition to fiber-optic networks. While extracting and processing old copper cables is costly and challenging due to degradation over time, the potential profits are significant. Copper recycling could yield a 30% profit at current prices, with telecom firms potentially recovering up to 963,000 tons of copper over the next decade, valued at over $7 billion. This surge in recycling is driven by copper’s growing demand in clean-energy infrastructure and the rising cost of mining new copper.

AT&T has already recycled over 14,000 tons of copper and plans to scale up efforts, working with multiple reclamation centers in the U.S. Copper’s high demand across industries like electronics and construction, along with its role in energy transition, makes it a valuable commodity. Despite challenges, copper recycling is increasingly seen as economically viable, especially as telecom companies decommission copper networks in favor of fiber-optic cables.

Source:
Old wires, new wealth: How telecom companies are turning copper into cash. Wireless Estimator, March 13, 2024.