Wire Harness, Cable & Electromechanical Assembly worked example

Cable Scrap Cost at 65% unrecoverable share: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop unrecoverable share to 65%, then walk the calculation through step by step. Estimate the cost of cable scrap on a cut-and-strip operation including lost material and disposal of unrecoverable offcuts.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Scrapped Cable Length: 800 ft (held at the documented default)
  • Cable Cost per Foot: 0.55 $/ft (held at the documented default)
  • Unrecoverable Share: 65 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 90)
  • Disposal and Handling Charge: 40 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Total = scrapped cable length x cable cost per foot x unrecoverable share% + disposal and handling charge.
  • Total cable scrap cost works out to 326 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Cable scrap cost per unit works out to 0.41 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Variable cable scrap cost works out to 286 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed cable scrap cost adder works out to 40 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where unrecoverable share sits at 90% and the headline result is 436 $, this scenario comes in 25.23% below the baseline at 326 $.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to unrecoverable share, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. The unrecoverable share is a flat capture factor, not a copper-reclaim market model, so it will not track daily scrap-copper prices or credits you actually receive.

Results at a glance

  • Total cable scrap cost: 326 $ (headline result)
  • Cable scrap cost per unit: 0.41 $ / piece
  • Variable cable scrap cost: 286 $
  • Fixed cable scrap cost adder: 40 $

Run it with your numbers

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

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.