“What is the current price to recycle copper is???”
This was first to come up under the search.
Not sure which applies to this story but you get the idea.
https://rockawayrecycling.com/metal/1-bare-bright-wire/
#1 Bare Bright Wire $4.20/lb
#1 Copper Tubing/Flashing $3.85/lb
#2 Copper Tubing/ Bus Bar $3.65/lb
Insulated Copper Wire $1.33/lb
the prices are high enough that they will steal any copper for anything..