Copper spools have the sheathing stripped off, wire cut to reasonable lengths, then brought to multiple recyclers in stages.
To be sure, the odd idiot will show up with a unadulterated spool and try to get paid, but most that go to the effort of abducting these things off the side of the road aren't entirely stupid.
Then again, a less scrupulous yard might still buy the spool as it comes and strip it themselves.
A local joint in my area did something like this last year. A five dollar burger with two patties, and one dollar per extra patty, no limit.
I'm sure in practice there would have been a limit, but we got a lot of burger for twenty dollars that day. It came skewered and served on its side in what I'm guessing was a submarine sandwich tray.