The project cost structure of a
scrap wire recycling plant is complex, encompassing four core components: equipment investment, infrastructure, operating capital, and compliance expenses. Equipment procurement accounts for the largest portion of initial investment, with the performance level of key equipment such as wire strippers, crushers, and sorting systems directly impacting the overall budget. Infrastructure involves fixed investments such as plant renovations, power capacity expansion, and environmental protection facilities, the costs of which depend on the site location and existing infrastructure. Operating capital must reserve funds for liquidity expenses such as raw material procurement, energy costs, and labor costs. Compliance costs include specific expenses such as environmental assessments, work safety permits, and occupational health certifications.
The choice of technology is a key factor influencing project costs. Traditional mechanical crushing and sorting solutions offer relatively low equipment investment, but limited metal recovery rates and product purity. However, integrated copper rice processing and plastic pelletizing processes, while initially costly, can enhance overall economic benefits through by-product value creation. The current mainstream trend is to deploy dry crushing and gravity sorting systems, which offer an optimal balance between equipment cost, recycling efficiency, and environmental compliance.
Environmental compliance costs represent an increasing proportion of total project costs. Modern scrap wire recycling plants must be equipped with dust collection systems, noise control equipment, and wastewater recycling devices. Exhaust gas treatment facilities must meet volatile organic compound emission standards. Furthermore, the investment required to apply for hazardous waste disposal qualifications and subsequent monitoring and management must be included in cost accounting. These hidden costs directly impact the long-term legality of the project.
The return on investment (ROI) of a project is influenced by multiple variables. In addition to the initial hardware investment, the availability of a stable supply of wire raw materials, market price fluctuations of copper-plastic separation products, and the strength of regional policy subsidies all impact the efficiency of capital recovery. Successful cost control requires reducing unit costs through scaled processing, while optimizing process flows to reduce energy and material consumption. Ultimately, the investment value is maximized through product diversification and resource efficiency.