Lesson Five: World of Rubbish – China and Christmas Tree Lights

Why do cables and Christmas tree lights get sent to China?

o Cables contain a lot of copper but the UK and US do not have time or money to break it all down.

o Copper on the global market is worth around $6 per kilo.

Source: Flickr user Burtysky

Recycling in China

o In a Chinese recycling yard in Foshan bales of copper cable are worth around $10,000-15,000.

o Christmas lights are around 28% copper.

o A machine in a recycling plant in China can process 2 million pounds of Christmas tree lights per year. Source: Flickr user antijoe

How are Christmas lights broken down?

Source: Jubilant

1. Put into a large machine to chop into tiny pieces.

2. Water pushed over the material to carry away lighter pieces of material

3. Copper that remains is removed and melted down for re-use

50% of China’s copper comes from scrap