I know others have also used bypass pruners of the little stuff the poster has, just score around the center of the short pieces with the pruner (it will also be used to cut to length), break, pull one side off and then grab the wires and pull out of the remaining sheathing...no need to make this any harder than it needs to be. The big 2-3" cables use a pneumatic air hammer with a body cutter bit or whatever they are called and cut to length with a sharp axe and a big swing, trying to pull the wires from those takes more of a man than I am today. Have done way over 1000 pounds of phone cable...almost all I have been given, have paper, not plastic insulation on the phone wires. A splice or 2 have had some plastic insulated wires. Better chance of the recycler buying the copper if it hasn't been burnt.