Materials we deal · HDPE scrap
HDPE cable cover scrap
HDPE cable cover scrap covers the protective hardware of underground cable networks: the cover tiles and protective slabs laid over buried cables, the split duct and conduit sections, spacers, drum cores and the offcuts generated by utility contractors. It is an unglamorous stream that most collectors overlook, and that is exactly why it is worth buying — the material is usually clean, single-polymer and available in quantity whenever a utility project finishes. Al Qaryan Industries buys HDPE cable cover scrap and recycles it into regrind for duct, pipe and moulded products.
What HDPE cable cover scrap is
When a power or telecom cable is buried, it is protected in layers: the cable itself, sometimes a duct or conduit, and above it a cover tile or protective slab that warns anyone digging and takes the impact of a spade. Those covers are moulded or extruded from high-density polyethylene because it is tough, electrically insulating, chemically inert in soil and does not rot. Split duct and conduit perform the same duty around the cable itself.
HDPE cable cover scrap is what remains when those networks are extended, rerouted or excavated. Because covers are installed in long runs and replaced in long runs, a single project can release several tonnes at once, and because they were buried rather than exposed to sunlight, the polymer is usually in good condition.
The grades we handle
Utility scrap is graded on how much soil and how much non-HDPE material is attached, and on whether the parts are whole or already broken.
| Cover tiles and protective slabs | Flat moulded HDPE, often yellow or black. Easy to stack and transport. |
|---|---|
| Split duct and conduit sections | Extruded HDPE, sometimes with a draw rope inside that must be pulled out. |
| Cable spacers and saddles | Small moulded parts, frequently PP. Sorted separately. |
| Drum cores and reels | HDPE or mixed polymer; checked before acceptance. |
| Contractor offcuts | Clean new material from installation work. Usually the best grade available. |
| Excavated covers with soil | Requires washing; priced lower as received. |
| Mixed utility plastics | Covers, conduit, spacers and tape together. Bought as mixed and separated in-house. |
Where our HDPE cable cover scrap comes from
Utility contractors are the main source. Every kilometre of new underground cable consumes covers and conduit, and every rerouting releases the old ones. Because these projects are scheduled, the supply is lumpy: nothing for weeks, then a full yard. We plan for that and hold the material rather than turning it away when a project lands.
Telecom operators and power distribution companies supply decommissioned material during network upgrades, and demolition contractors bring covers out of sites being redeveloped. Alongside those we buy mixed HDPE from traders, where cable covers are one component of a larger polyethylene load.
Specification we work to
Cable covers are moulded from a tough, usually medium-flow HDPE that is often pigmented yellow for visibility or black for UV resistance. The recycled regrind keeps that toughness, which makes it well suited to duct and drainage products.
| Polymer | High-density polyethylene, duct and cover grade |
|---|---|
| Typical density | Around 0.940 to 0.955 g/cm3; measured per lot |
| Melt flow index | Medium to low; reported per lot |
| Colour | Yellow, black, orange, mixed |
| Form supplied | Regrind, shredded or pellets |
| Contamination | Soil washed out; draw rope, tape and metal fixings removed |
| Moisture | Checked and reported before dispatch |
| Packing | 25 kg bags, jumbo bags or bulk |
| Documents | Batch report; third-party inspection on request |
Contamination and inspection
Soil is the routine contaminant and the main cost. Covers come out of trenches coated in wet clay, and that clay has to be washed off before grinding or it turns into abrasive sludge in the granulator. We knock off the bulk, then wash.
Draw rope is the second. Conduit and split duct are often installed with a polypropylene or nylon pull cord inside, and if that cord reaches the granulator it wraps around the rotor and stops the machine. It is pulled out by hand at intake. Tape, warning mesh and cable markers are removed the same way.
The polymer risk is polypropylene. Cable spacers, saddles and some covers are PP rather than HDPE, and the two look similar once they are dirty. We check by density — PP floats in the same solutions HDPE floats in, so the check is by feel and by burn or melt test at intake rather than by a tank. Where the mix is significant we run a separate PP stream rather than blending.
How we collect HDPE cable cover scrap
For utility contractors we work on a project basis: we assess the material as it comes out, agree a rate on the assessed grade, and arrange collection so the site is cleared on the contractor’s schedule rather than ours. Whole covers are stacked and strapped for transport, which keeps the load dense and the freight cost down.
Traders can deliver to the yard by weight after inspection. Because covers are flat and stackable, they load well and the transport economics are better than for bulky pipe.
How we recycle it
Covers and split duct are granulated directly — they are already thin-walled, so shredding is only needed for thick moulded parts. The flake is washed to remove soil, dried, and density-separated to lift out any polypropylene that arrived with the load. It is then bagged as regrind or pelletised with filtration for buyers who need a more uniform feed.
Because the input is often a single colour from a single project, we can sometimes offer a colour-consistent lot, which is worth more than a mixed one. If colour consistency matters to your product, ask what is currently in the yard rather than assuming mixed.
What is made from recycled HDPE cable cover scrap
The material is a natural fit for the same family of products it came from, plus the usual range of tough moulded goods.
- Cable duct, conduit and split duct for new installations
- Cable protection covers and warning tiles
- Corrugated drainage pipe and land drainage
- Injection-moulded spacers, saddles and fixings
- Crates, bins and industrial containers
- HDPE sheet for lining and fabrication
- Rotomoulded products where a medium-flow HDPE is acceptable
What moves the price of HDPE cable cover scrap
Cable cover scrap is an overlooked stream, and that is precisely why it prices well. Most collectors chase bottles and pipe, so covers and split duct sit in contractors’ yards with no obvious buyer. The polymer is good, the colour is often consistent per project, and the contamination is soil rather than chemistry — which makes it cheap to clean. Buyers who know the material get a better input cost than they would for post-consumer container scrap.
The catch is lumpiness. Utility work is scheduled, so a project releases several tonnes at once and then nothing for months. A recycler without yard space has to turn it away; we hold it and process it steadily. Sellers should expect the price to reflect distance and access, because covers are stackable but heavy, and a site with no hard standing for a truck adds handling that has to be paid for.
Specifying HDPE cable cover scrap: what to send us
- Material type: cover tiles, protective slabs, split duct, conduit offcuts, spacers or drum cores
- Colour and whether the load is single-project or accumulated from several sites
- Level of soil contamination and whether the material has been washed or knocked down
- Whether draw rope, warning tape or cable markers are still inside the duct
- Approximate tonnage, project location and access for a truck
- Whether polypropylene spacers and saddles are mixed in, since they are a different polymer
Buying HDPE cable cover scrap from Al Qaryan Industries
Al Qaryan Industries buys HDPE cable cover scrap, split duct, conduit offcuts and utility HDPE from contractors, telecom and power companies, and traders across Pakistan. We have been recycling polyethylene since 2007 and process around 500 tons of plastic a month.
Contractors: send us the project location, the approximate tonnage and the type of material. We will inspect and quote on the assessed grade, then arrange collection so your site closes out on time. WhatsApp +92 333 201 0506 is the fastest way to reach our purchasing team.
Buyers: if you make duct, conduit, covers or drainage pipe, this is one of the most cost-effective HDPE feeds available, and it is usually cleaner than post-consumer container scrap. Tell us the colour and form you need and we will confirm what we can supply.
Questions buyers and suppliers ask
Is cable cover scrap clean enough to use directly?
Usually yes after washing. It has been buried rather than exposed to sunlight or food residue, so the main contaminant is soil, which washes out easily.
Are cable covers HDPE or PP?
Most are HDPE, but spacers and saddles are often PP. We separate by polymer at intake and do not blend the two silently.
Can you collect from an active construction site?
Yes, we schedule collection around the contractor programme so we do not interrupt the works, and we handle loading.
What is the difference between this and HDPE pipe scrap?
Pipe scrap is pressure pipe with a specified grade and a known classification. Cable covers and duct are utility mouldings and extrusions without a pressure rating, so they are graded on cleanliness and colour instead.