Fiber Optic Cable & Photonic Interconnects worked example

Scrap Fiber Cost at 72% recoverable scrap cost share: a worked example

This worked example runs the scrap fiber cost numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 72% recoverable scrap cost share instead of the typical 100%. Estimate scrap fiber cost from scrapped length, cost per length, recoverable share, and fixed disposition cost.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Scrapped fiber or cable length: 1,200 m, km, or ft (held at the documented default)
  • Fiber or cable cost per unit length: 0.18 $ / length (held at the documented default)
  • Recoverable scrap cost share: 72 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 100)
  • Fixed scrap handling or disposition cost: 75 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Scrap fiber cost = scrapped length × cost per length × capture share + fixed handling cost.
  • Total scrap fiber cost works out to 231 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Average scrap cost per length works out to 0.19 $ / length at these inputs.
  • Variable captured scrap cost works out to 156 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed scrap handling cost works out to 75 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where recoverable scrap cost share sits at 100% and the headline result is 291 $, this scenario comes in 20.78% below the baseline at 231 $.
  • Use it to cost a scrap event, build a monthly scrap budget, or quantify the savings from a yield or cut-optimization project. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Total scrap fiber cost: 231 $ (headline result)
  • Average scrap cost per length: 0.19 $ / length
  • Variable captured scrap cost: 156 $
  • Fixed scrap handling cost: 75 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Scrap Fiber Cost calculator, set recoverable scrap cost share to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.