Cable Buyback in Bratislava: How Much You Get per Kilogram and What the Price Depends On
Cable Buyback in Bratislava: How Much You Get per Kilogram and What the Price Depends On
Cable buyback price: per kilogram, copper cables fetch €0.50 to €4.00 and aluminium cables €0.50 to €0.80. What matters most is how much metal the cable contains: more copper and less insulation means a higher price group. The prices below come from the WIP price list as loaded on 28 October 2026 and change along with metal prices.
Cable buyback: prices by price group
A buyer does not pay for the cable, but for the metal inside it. Insulation, sheath and filler have to be separated and processed, so they lower the price. That is why cables are sorted into groups by metal percentage.
Copper cables:
| Price group | What belongs here (approximate) | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cu cables 10 % | thin communication and telephone cables, cords | €0.50 |
| Cu cables 20 % | thin multi-core cables with thick insulation | €1.00 |
| Cu cables 30 % | thinner installation cables | €2.00 |
| Cu cables 40 % | standard installation cables (e.g. smaller CYKY cross-sections) | €3.00 |
| Cu cables 50 % | thicker installation and power cables | €3.50 |
| Cu cables 60 % | thick power cables with a large cross-section | €4.00 |
| Clean car cables | wiring from cars | €3.50 |
Aluminium and other:
| Price group | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Al cables 40 % | aluminium cables with up to 40 % metal | €0.50 |
| Al cables 60 % | aluminium cables with 60 % metal | €0.80 |
| XPE cables | aluminium cables with copper shielding, depending on thickness and metal content | €0.80 |
| Alfa rope | – | €0.60 |
| Clean, bright Al conductor | stripped aluminium | €2.00 |
For comparison, clean copper without insulation is worth much more: Millberry copper wire €10.00 and Cu mix (burnt and tinned copper) €9.60.
Source: WIP price list, as of 28 October 2026. The price list states neither a validity date nor VAT. WIP confirms the actual price for your cables after inspecting the material, or by phone or e-mail.
The assignment of cable types to groups in the middle column is approximate. The buyer decides the group based on the actual cross-section and condition of the cable.
What the price per kilogram depends on
Type of metal
Copper is several times more expensive than aluminium. An aluminium cable with 60 % metal (€0.80) is cheaper than a copper cable with 20 % (€1.00). Do not expect copper prices for old aluminium wiring from prefab blocks of flats.
Share of metal in the cable
This makes the biggest difference. A thin telephone cable has a lot of plastic and little copper; a thick power cable is the opposite. The difference between the 10 % and 60 % groups is eight times the price per kilogram.
Approximate calculation for a common CYKY 3×2.5 cable:
copper cross-section: 3 × 2.5 mm² = 7.5 mm²
copper per 1 m: 7.5 mm² × 1 m × 8.96 g/cm³ ≈ 67 g
total cable weight: approx. 140 – 160 g/m
copper share: 67 / 150 ≈ 45 %
Actual weight varies by manufacturer, so this is only an estimate. A detailed breakdown of copper in the most common CYKY cross-sections is being prepared as a separate article.
Cleanliness and sorting
A cable without terminals, sockets, clamps, plaster and other waste can be graded precisely. A mix of different cables in one bag is harder to price. If it is unclear what it contains, the buyer may put the whole mix into a lower group.
Metal prices on the exchange
Buyback prices move with copper and aluminium prices on world markets. Always check the current price list before you drive over.
Not sure which price group your cables belong to? The price list shows all groups of copper and aluminium cables.
Calculation: what 200 kg of cables from your jobs brings in
An illustrative example for a crew that collects 200 kg of cables from renovations over a few months. Prices per the WIP price list as of 28 October 2026; the group assignment is an assumption.
| Cable type | Weight | Group | Price | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CYKY installation cables | 80 kg | Cu 40 % | €3.00 | €240 |
| thick supply cables | 40 kg | Cu 60 % | €4.00 | €160 |
| thin and telephone cables | 30 kg | Cu 20 % | €1.00 | €30 |
| other copper cables | 50 kg | Cu 30 % | €2.00 | €100 |
| Total, sorted | 200 kg | €530 |
sorted: 240 + 160 + 30 + 100 = €530
unsorted: 200 kg × €2.00 (if the whole mix went into the 30 % group) = €400
difference: 530 − 400 = €130
In this example, sorting adds €130. Whether that pays off against sorting time and van fuel is covered in a separate article with a calculation for a small company.
Step by step from the job to payment
- Keep cables on site separate from other waste, ideally in bags or crates by type.
- Separate copper from aluminium and thin cables from thick ones.
- Remove terminals, sockets, boxes, clamps and plaster residue.
- Weigh the cables at least roughly so you know what amount to expect.
- Check the current price list and, for larger quantities, agree by phone or e-mail.
- Bring the cables to the site. For larger volumes, WIP offers collection or a container by arrangement.
- At the site, the cables are weighed, graded and the final price agreed.
How container delivery and collection works is described in the article Kontajner na káble na stavbu: ako funguje pristavenie a odvoz (in Slovak).
The WIP cable yard is at Galvaniho 12 in Bratislava. According to the website, it is open on weekdays from 7:00 to 15:30, with different hours in summer. It is closed at weekends and on public holidays. Check the hours on the Contact page before you go.
What to bring
The WIP website does not list all required documents. Before your first sale, check by phone:
- which ID document is needed,
- whether you sell as a private person or as a company (company ID, invoicing details),
- whether a statutory declaration has to be filled in (the form is on the WIP website),
- how payment works.
If the cables come from a client's job, first make clear who they belong to. Who counts as the waste producer in construction work, and what follows from it, is explained in the article Káble zo stavby a zákon o odpadoch: čo musí stavebná firma splniť (in Slovak).
Common mistakes that lower the price
- Everything in one bag. A mix of copper, aluminium and thin cables is hard to price and may end up in a lower group.
- Cables with terminals and accessories. Sockets, plugs and clamps are not copper.
- Cables dirty with plaster or concrete. They add weight, not value.
- Burning the insulation. It is illegal, harmful to health, and burnt copper is bought as Cu mix, not as Millberry.
- Prices from memory. Prices change; check the current price list before you go.
Have your cables sorted and want to know what you will get? Compare your weights with the current prices for each group.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a kilogram of copper cable?
According to the WIP price list as of 28 October 2026, from €0.50 (cables with 10 % copper) to €4.00 (cables with 60 % copper). Clean copper without insulation is €9.60 (Cu mix) to €10.00 (Millberry).
How much is a kilogram of aluminium cable?
Aluminium cables are in the €0.50 (up to 40 % metal) and €0.80 (60 % metal) groups. A clean, bright aluminium conductor is €2.00.
Is it worth stripping cables?
Stripped copper is worth more than twice the best cable group. With thin cables, however, it takes a lot of time. When stripping pays off will be covered in a separate article.
Why is the price for thin cables so low?
Thin cables contain little copper and a lot of insulation. Processing is harder and metal yield is lower.
Do you buy small quantities?
The WIP website does not state a minimum quantity. For small amounts, check the terms by phone.
Where are cables bought in Bratislava?
WIP buys cables at its cable yard at Galvaniho 12 in Bratislava. WIP's second site is in Šamorín, on Agátový rad.
Conclusion
The price per kilogram of cables is set mainly by the type of metal and its share in the cable. According to the WIP price list, copper cables are in groups from €0.50 to €4.00, aluminium from €0.50 to €0.80. You get the most when you separate cables by metal and thickness on site and clean them of accessories. Check the current price list before every trip, as prices move with metal prices. More about processing is on the cable processing page.
Want to know the current price before you drive over? Prices move with metal prices, so it is worth checking before every trip.
