How much stock, regarding cable, do electrical wholesalers waste?

I'm gathering initial market research for a cable recycling company that I’m looking to scale.

I approached an electrical wholesaler based in the UK last week to see if he would let me carry out a survey on his customers (electricians) for my market research. The manager invited me to his warehouse, and we had a good chat. He took me round the back and showed me a huge pile of all sorted cable, all unused and on the reel. He told me it’s all old stock which hasn’t sold over past year and he’ll be taking it to the scrap yard later that day.



I was amazed that so much fresh cable was literally going off the shelf and straight to the scrap yard. It made me realise that wholesalers could be a big supplier for my cable recycling company.

My question is, are there any scrapyards here that have received large quantities of cable from electrical wholesalers that is old stock and hasn’t sold? I’m based in the UK but open to hear if this is common thing globally.

Thanks,

Josh

Yup! In fact just a few minutes ago a customer here in Las Vegas in the US brought in around 800lbs of Cat-5 wire unused and still in boxes. Happens all the time with both copper and aluminum wire. In boxes, on spools, in baggies and every which way. Surplus stock is a good source for recyclable material.

They likely do. Large purchasers probably make enough of a margin on the labor to cover any back end surplus stock ncosts

Thanks for your feedback on this guys. I had to remind myself that it’s a shame so must stock had to be wasted just because of a change of brand or a discontinued product line, I guess that’s just retail for you… On the up side, its more fodder for my choppers!