Rethinking waste: how JR Hammer is transforming cable recycling

How did cable waste become such a huge problem?

Waste is unnecessary, unintelligent, unsustainable, and uneconomical.  

When China brought in their ‘National Sword’ Policy banning imported waste, almost overnight, Australia and many other countries were forced to deal with their own mounting piles of waste – electric cables included! 

Cables are made from a variety of materials including copper, aluminium and PVC/Vinyl. Most cable ‘recyclers’, focus solely on metal recovery, leaving behind the rest (such as PVC insulation), which usually ends up in landfills.  

The result is a wasteful system with recovery rates of only around 40-50% and a woefully low recovery rate of the PVC – just 3-5%).  

Traditional scrap metal methods just aren’t sustainable and they’re way behind supporting Australia’s national target of achieving 80% recovery rates by 2030. 

This is at the heart of why we created JR Hammer.  

We’re on a mission to redefine how the electrical and construction industry manages cable waste. We are transforming what was once considered ‘scrap’, it into valuable resources through smarter, environmentally friendly, transparent recycling solutions that leverage the very latest technology and marketplace dynamics. 

The circular economy: a smarter approach

Our current economy operates on “take-make-dispose”, linear approach. Our war on waste isn’t going away unless our approach and way of thinking completely changes. 

The circular economy is now underway, and the evidence all points towards it’s potential to making a huge difference to our futures.  

This circular system positions all materials and products as valuable resources that should be kept circulating for as long as possible, regenerating resources rather than depleting them. 

In cable recycling, this translates to a process that captures both the metal and the other insulating materials and recycles them into virgin-grade materials that are reintroduced into the supply chain for manufacturing of goods (including new cables!) 

A circular approach to cable recycling not only benefits the environment but also creates new business opportunities and rewards for electrical contractors by capturing additional value streams from waste. 

JR Hammer’s innovative approach to cable recycling

Part of our approach in supporting the circular economy is our drive to lead the charge in cable recycling investing in efficient and sustainable machinery and innovations. With state-of-the-art European machinery and a complete recovery system, we can achieve up to a 90% material recovery rate, far exceeding the industry’s 40-50% standard. 

Metals 

We recycle both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, ensuring maximum material recovery through advanced processing methods. Each metal’s properties are sufficiently preserved to re-enter the supply chain for remanufacturing in a variety of industries, from automotive to construction. 

PVC and Vinyl 

For the second waste stream (PVC and Vinyl), we are in the process of developing new technology to effectively dissolve the materials, filter out contaminants, then precipitate high-quality virgin grade materials that are ready for use in sustainable manufacturing. As world leaders in PVC recycling, we continue to invest in improving PVC reclamation without compromising on quality, reducing both the need for new materials and the disposing of old materials, while helping businesses stay compliant with environmental regulations. 

Backed by federal government CRC-P grant, we’re partnering with CSIRO, RMIT, BYGEN, Welvic and The Vinyl Council of Australia, to continue developing cutting-edge dissolution technology, focusing on ways to improve PVC recycling rates Australia wide. 

The future of cable recycling with JR Hammer

JR Hammer is redefining what’s possible in cable recycling. Combining technology with a circular economy mindset, we’re not just reducing waste, we’re developing a smarter, more sustainable and efficient approach – that’s better for the environment AND stacks up commercially.  

Let’s partner! 

By partnering with us, your business not only captures more value from waste, it contributes to national environmental goals and positions itself as a leader in the transition to a more circular economy. 

Join us as we scrap the old ways and rethink waste!  

We offer a free assessment of your cable waste stream, so let’s talk.