Litho Sheets Scrap Price

Copper/Aluminum BX Cable Scrap consists of insulated copper electrical conductors enclosed in flexible aluminum armor. Commonly called Aluminum BX Scrap, Aluminum Armored Cable or Aluminum BX (MC), this material is recovered from electrical installations, building renovations, commercial construction and industrial equipment upgrades.

Although BX is a widely used trade name, the actual electrical product may be Type AC, Canadian AC90 or a qualifying Type MC cable. These constructions are not always identical. Scrap value depends on the copper conductors, aluminum armor, insulation, cable construction, metal recovery and the receiving buyer's requirements.

What Is Copper/Aluminum BX Cable Scrap?

Copper/Aluminum BX Cable Scrap is a mixed-metal cable containing copper electrical conductors protected by an interlocked aluminum sheath.

Unlike ordinary insulated copper wire, the aluminum armor forms an additional protective metallic layer around the conductor assembly.

Depending on the cable design, it may contain:

• Solid copper electrical conductors
• Stranded copper electrical conductors
• PVC, XLPE or other electrical insulation
• Copper or aluminum bonding and grounding components
• Paper, polymer or other binder materials
• Flexible interlocked aluminum armor

Both the copper conductors and aluminum armor can be recycled through suitable industrial processing.

Important distinction: The grade described here contains copper circuit conductors and aluminum armor. Other armored cables may use aluminum conductors, steel armor or different constructions and should not automatically be combined.

What Does BX Mean in Electrical Cable?

BX is a longstanding commercial nickname for armored electrical cable.

The term originated in early armored-cable product development and remained in common use among electricians, contractors and metal recyclers.

Today, manufacturers use specific technical designations, including Type AC, AC90 and Type MC.

These designations describe different cable constructions, standards and grounding arrangements.

In scrap trading, BX is often used more broadly than its original technical meaning.

For accurate buying and selling, the actual armor metal and conductor metal are more important than the nickname alone.

What Is Aluminum BX Cable Made Of?

Aluminum BX cable typically combines two valuable nonferrous metal streams with electrical insulation.

Copper Conductors

Copper circuit conductors carry electrical current. Their weight, size and number influence the amount of recoverable copper in the cable.

Aluminum Armor

Flexible interlocked aluminum armor provides mechanical protection around the conductor assembly. Its weight contributes to the cable's total recyclable aluminum content.

Electrical Insulation

Conductors are surrounded by insulating material. Depending on the product, insulation may include PVC, XLPE or other approved polymers.

Bonding and Grounding Components

Cable designs may contain copper or aluminum bonding conductors, grounding conductors or other grounding arrangements.

Binders and Wrapping

Paper and polymer wrapping can help organize or protect the conductor assembly and contribute to the nonmetallic fraction.

The precise material composition varies by manufacturer, conductor size and cable specification.

Aluminum BX vs. Type AC Cable

Some aluminum-armored cable purchased as BX is technically classified as Type AC cable.

Under common U.S. Type AC construction, insulated conductors are enclosed in flexible metal armor with an internal bonding strip in contact with the armor.

The bonding strip and armor form part of the specified equipment-grounding arrangement.

Type AC products may use aluminum or steel armor, so the designation AC does not independently establish the armor metal.

Scrap distinction: Type AC cable with aluminum armor and copper conductors may qualify for an Aluminum BX buying category when the receiving yard accepts that construction.

Type AC material with steel armor may instead belong in a Steel BX category.

What Is Canadian AC90 Cable?

AC90 is a recognized Canadian armored cable designation used in electrical installations.

Manufacturers offer AC90 products containing copper conductors, XLPE insulation, a bonding conductor and interlocked aluminum armor.

However, some AC90 products use aluminum circuit conductors, so AC90 should not be interpreted as meaning copper conductors in every case.

For example, copper-conductor AC90 may include:

• Solid or stranded copper circuit conductors
• Cross-linked polyethylene insulation
• A bare copper bonding conductor
• Paper wrapping
• Interlocked aluminum armor

Actual construction must be confirmed from the product marking or manufacturer specifications.

Commercial recommendation: Separate copper-conductor AC90 from aluminum-conductor AC90 where the receiving scrap yard purchases them under different grades.

Aluminum BX vs. Type MC Cable

Type MC, or Metal-Clad cable, is another recognized electrical wiring method.

Some Type MC products use insulated copper conductors and aluminum interlocked armor, creating a material combination similar to copper-conductor Aluminum BX.

However, Type MC and Type AC have different construction and grounding requirements.

Traditional Type MC cable commonly uses an internal equipment grounding conductor, while Type AC relies on its specified bonding-strip and armor arrangement.

Special Type MC constructions can use an armor-based grounding system with an appropriate bonding conductor.

Because these constructions vary, the armor alone should not be used to determine the exact electrical cable type.

From a scrap-market perspective, some buyers combine suitable aluminum-armored Type AC and Type MC cable into an Aluminum BX (MC) commercial grade.

Others may establish separate grades according to metal content and copper recovery.

BX, AC90 and MC Cable: Scrap Comparison

Bottom line: Electrical product classifications do not always correspond one-to-one with scrap-yard purchasing categories. Confirm the actual materials and the buyer's grade definition.

How to Identify Aluminum BX Cable Scrap

Aluminum-armored cable can often be recognized by its flexible, interlocked metallic outer sheath.

However, visual inspection should be combined with available cable markings and material identification.

1. Confirm electrical safety: Only inspect cable that has been properly isolated and verified safe by qualified personnel.
2. Inspect the armor: Look for the characteristic flexible interlocked metal sheath.
3. Check for steel: A magnet can help identify ordinary ferrous armor.
4. Verify the conductor: Inspect an existing, safely prepared cable end to identify copper or aluminum circuit conductors.
5. Review markings: Look for manufacturer identification and AC, AC90, MC or related designations.
6. Check grounding material: Note copper or aluminum bonding and grounding components.
7. Separate cable grades: Keep copper-conductor aluminum armor separate from steel BX and aluminum-conductor cable.
8. Confirm the buyer's specification: Identify the applicable scrap category before shipment.

Identification warning: Magnetic screening is not a complete metal-identification method. Some stainless steels and other materials behave differently, and magnets do not establish conductor purity.

Aluminum BX vs. Steel BX Cable Scrap

The principal distinction between Aluminum BX and Steel BX is the outer armor material.

Aluminum BX

Uses aluminum armor. When the internal conductors are copper, both principal metals have potential nonferrous recycling value.

Steel BX

Uses steel armor, which belongs to a ferrous recovery stream. Internal conductors may still be copper, depending on construction.

The armor changes total cable weight, metal recovery and processing requirements.

RecyclingMonster maintains Insulated Steel BX Scrap Prices as a separate category.

Sorting recommendation: Keep aluminum-armored and steel-armored cable separate if the buyer purchases them under distinct grades.

Is Aluminum BX Worth More Than Steel BX?

Not necessarily.

Aluminum is a nonferrous metal, but the value of a complete armored cable depends on more than the armor alone.

Important factors include copper conductor weight, aluminum or steel armor weight, insulation and the recovery process.

A copper-rich steel-armored cable can have different value from a lightly copper-bearing aluminum-armored cable.

Therefore, there is no universal fixed premium for Aluminum BX compared with Steel BX.

Use grade-specific buying quotations for material with comparable conductor sizes and construction.

Aluminum BX vs. Romex Wire Scrap

Romex is a widely recognized trade name associated with nonmetallic-sheathed building cable.

Common NM-B cable contains insulated electrical conductors enclosed in a nonmetallic outer jacket.

Aluminum BX differs because it has a metallic armor around the conductor assembly.

The aluminum armor adds recoverable metal but also changes the overall conductor-to-cable weight ratio and recycling process.

Scrap yards may therefore purchase Romex and Aluminum BX under separate grades.

Compare Romex Wire Scrap Prices for this related cable category.

Aluminum BX vs. Ordinary Insulated Copper Wire

Ordinary insulated copper wire generally lacks the interlocked aluminum armor found on Aluminum BX.

The addition of aluminum armor creates a mixed-metal cable stream that requires different processing and value assessment.

The receiving buyer may evaluate:

• Total copper weight
• Recoverable aluminum armor
• Conductor size
• Grounding components
• Insulation and binders
• Attached fittings and foreign materials

Do not mix aluminum-armored cable into a premium insulated-copper-wire load without buyer approval.

What Is Copper Recovery in BX Cable?

Copper recovery refers to the share of the total cable weight that can be recovered as copper through an appropriate recycling process.

For example, the total weight of an armored cable includes copper, aluminum, insulation and other components.

The copper-recovery percentage is based on recoverable copper relative to that complete material weight.

A cable with thicker copper conductors may have a different recovery percentage from one containing smaller conductors and more armor or insulation.

The exact percentage should be established using reliable product information, representative processing data or buyer-approved testing.

Important: Copper recovery and total nonferrous-metal recovery are different measurements. An Aluminum BX shipment may contain recoverable aluminum in addition to its copper.

How Do Scrap Buyers Estimate Aluminum BX Value?

Industrial wire processors assess the recoverable metals and the processing required to produce acceptable secondary-material streams.

Factors may include:

• Copper conductor quantity and size
• Copper recovery percentage
• Aluminum armor recovery
• Insulation and other nonmetallic weight
• Foreign attachments
• Sorting and mechanical processing cost
• Shipment quantity and consistency
• Current copper and aluminum market conditions
• Transportation and handling expenses

Scrap buyers may use their own grades and expected recovery yields. One buyer's Aluminum BX (MC) specification should not automatically be applied to another buyer.

Should You Remove Aluminum Armor Before Selling?

Not automatically. Removing the armor creates separate aluminum and insulated-conductor streams, but also requires additional handling and labor.

Some wire processors prefer to purchase armored cable intact, while others may offer different prices for prepared material.

Before processing large quantities, compare:

• Intact Aluminum BX buying price
• Recovered aluminum armor weight and accepted grade
• Remaining insulated copper conductor weight
• Accepted insulated-wire price
• Armor removal time and labor
• Additional processing and transportation expenses

Commercial recommendation: Compare total net proceeds, not only the per-pound rate for the separated copper or aluminum.

Does Removing BX Armor Produce Bare Bright Copper?

No. Removing the aluminum armor normally leaves insulated copper conductors.

Those conductors do not automatically qualify as Bare Bright Copper simply because the metal sheath has been removed.

To qualify for a premium Bare Bright grade, the resulting wire must meet the receiving buyer's requirements for clean, bare, uncoated copper.

See #1 Copper Bare Bright Scrap Prices as a separate grade comparison.

Can Aluminum BX Cable Be Burned for Copper?

No. Open burning is not an appropriate method of preparing electrical cable for recycling.

Cable insulation can contain PVC, XLPE or other polymers that may generate hazardous combustion products when burned.

Uncontrolled burning may also oxidize and contaminate the recovered metal.

Suitable mechanical recycling and wire-processing methods should be used instead.

Safety warning: Do not burn insulated electrical cable to remove coatings or recover copper.

Where Does Aluminum BX Cable Scrap Come From?

Aluminum-armored building cable is generated during construction, electrical upgrades, maintenance and demolition.

Electrical Contractors

Installation offcuts, rewiring projects and electrical system replacement can generate armored cable scrap.

Commercial Building Renovations

Office buildings, retail spaces and other commercial properties may contain armored wiring that is replaced during renovation.

Apartment and Condominium Projects

Multifamily buildings can generate cable scrap during electrical modernization and service upgrades.

Industrial Maintenance

Industrial facilities may replace armored power or control cable as equipment and electrical distribution systems are updated.

Institutional Buildings

Hospitals, schools and other institutional facilities can generate armored cable through authorized electrical renovation work.

Building Demolition and Deconstruction

Electrical cable recovered during building dismantling can be separated and directed to an appropriate metal recycler.

Construction offcuts are often easier to identify by product type than mixed demolition cable because their original markings and material records may remain available.

Electrical Safety Before Cable Removal

Electrical cables must not be treated as deenergized simply because they are disconnected at one visible location.

Electrical demolition and salvage work require appropriate circuit isolation, testing and work procedures.

In the United States, OSHA maintains electrical safety requirements for covered construction and general-industry activities.

Qualified personnel should verify that the relevant circuits have been made safe before removal, inspection or processing.

Critical safety rule: Never cut, pull or strip installed electrical cable unless it has been properly isolated and verified safe.

How Is Aluminum BX Cable Recycled?

Professional armored-cable recycling involves recovering copper and aluminum from insulated composite cable.

A recycling operation may include:

1. Receiving and grading: Cable is weighed and inspected against the buyer's material specification.
2. Metal identification: Copper-conductor aluminum-armored cable is distinguished from other cable grades.
3. Preparation: Large connectors, boxes and unrelated attachments may be removed.
4. Mechanical processing: Suitable equipment separates or reduces the cable's different components.
5. Ferrous separation: Steel contamination is removed where appropriate.
6. Nonferrous separation: Copper-rich and aluminum-rich fractions are recovered using suitable technology.
7. Insulation separation: Nonmetallic material is separated and managed according to downstream requirements.
8. Quality verification: Recovered metals are checked for contamination and accepted grades.
9. Secondary-metal processing: Copper and aluminum are sent to appropriate recycling facilities.
10. Manufacturing: Recovered metals become feedstock for suitable new products.

Not every recycling facility performs all processing stages on-site. Some scrap yards aggregate acceptable cable and sell it to specialized wire-recovery processors.

Copper/Aluminum BX Cable Scrap Prices

Aluminum BX Cable Scrap prices depend on copper content, aluminum armor weight, cable construction, insulation, preparation, quantity, location and the receiving buyer's specifications.

RecyclingMonster records a commercial grade called Aluminum BX (MC) in selected local scrap-price databases.

This should not be confused with the general price of clean aluminum scrap or copper wire.

What Affects BX Cable Prices?

• Copper conductors: Number, size and weight of recoverable copper wires
• Aluminum armor: Amount and condition of recoverable aluminum
• Conductor composition: Copper-conductor versus aluminum-conductor cable
• Insulation: Amount of plastic and other nonmetallic material
• Grounding components: Copper or aluminum bonding and grounding material
• Cable construction: Type AC, AC90, MC or another accepted product
• Preparation: Intact versus processed cable
• Contamination: Steel fittings, electrical boxes, debris and unrelated material
• Quantity: Shipment weight and consistency
• Location: Local buyers, freight and processing availability
• Market conditions: Copper and aluminum commodity demand

Available Aluminum BX (MC) Scrap Prices

Review RecyclingMonster's available price observations below. Confirm the exact grade, reporting date, location, currency and unit.

price

For broader reference data, visit Aluminum Scrap Prices and Copper Scrap Prices.

General copper and aluminum scrap averages are not direct quotations for complete aluminum-armored cable.

How to Improve Aluminum BX Scrap Value

Proper preparation starts by separating cable types and limiting contamination.

1. Separate armor types: Keep Aluminum BX apart from Steel BX.
2. Verify conductor metal: Separate copper-conductor material from aluminum-conductor cable.
3. Retain cable identification: Preserve useful product markings and records when available.
4. Separate Romex: Keep nonmetallic-sheathed building wire in its proper grade.
5. Remove unrelated debris: Exclude excessive steel, electrical boxes, plastic housings and other attachments where required.
6. Keep clean offcuts separate: Avoid mixing identifiable contractor offcuts with contaminated demolition cable.
7. Avoid burning: Never burn insulation or coatings to expose copper.
8. Evaluate armor removal: Compare intact-cable buying prices with processing costs before dismantling.
9. Document loads: Record weight, cable type, condition and source.
10. Confirm purchasing terms: Verify buyer grading, minimum quantities, collection and payment before delivery.

A consistently separated cable stream can be easier for processors to evaluate than mixed armored cable of unknown construction.

Where Can You Sell Copper/Aluminum BX Cable Scrap?

Copper-conductor aluminum-armored cable may be purchased by nonferrous scrap yards, specialized wire recyclers and metal recovery facilities.

However, not every facility maintains a dedicated Aluminum BX purchasing category.

yards

Use RecyclingMonster's Recycle an Item directory to research businesses listing BX-related cable and armored wire among accepted materials.

The Insulated Wire Recycling Centers Directory provides broader potential buyers.

Additional facilities can be found through Metal Recycling Centers and Scrap Yards.

Buyer verification: A directory listing does not establish that a facility currently purchases Aluminum BX (MC), accepts mixed armored cable or offers collection services. Confirm the material grade and buying terms directly.

Bulk Aluminum BX Scrap: Commercial Requirements

Electrical contractors, demolition firms, industrial maintenance operations and building owners may generate substantial quantities of armored cable.

For commercial transactions, confirm:

• Accepted Aluminum BX or Aluminum BX (MC) specification
• Type AC, AC90 and Type MC classification
• Aluminum armor requirements
• Copper-conductor requirements
• Minimum copper-recovery expectations
• Permitted grounding and bonding materials
• Steel-armored and aluminum-conductor exclusions
• Accepted insulation and contamination levels
• Intact versus mechanically processed cable acceptance
• Removal of electrical boxes, connectors and large fittings
• Minimum shipment quantity
• Accepted lengths and packaging requirements
• Gaylord, pallet and container availability
• Pickup schedules and loading responsibilities
• Delivered versus collected pricing
• Weight verification and grading procedures
• Sampling and metal-recovery adjustments
• Freight and processing deductions
• Payment and settlement arrangements

Separating aluminum-armored cable at the point of generation can reduce unnecessary sorting and help buyers assign the correct scrap category.

Free pickup, a fixed copper-recovery percentage and higher bulk prices should not be assumed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aluminum BX Cable Scrap

Material information and safety notice: Aluminum BX scrap grading, metal composition, copper recovery, purchasing prices and recycler acceptance vary by cable construction, condition, buyer, location and reporting date. Electrical cable removal requires appropriate isolation and safety verification. Never burn insulation or process potentially energized cable. Final material grades and commercial terms depend on the receiving buyer.