ERI, Cyclic Materials partner recycle rare earths, critical minerals from e-waste

Leading global resource recovery player ERI has partnered with rare earth recycling company Cyclic Materials to form one of the largest rare earth recovery ecosystems in the USA by combining ERI’s nationwide collection network with Cyclic Materials’ commercial rare earth recovery and refining technologies to process high volume magnet-containing products.

Cyclic Materials said that initial commercialization includes multiple product categories that will create one of the largest commercial rare earth recycling feedstock portfolios in North America.

Unlike traditional mining, recovering rare earth from products already in circulation is becoming the most realistic approach to solving the supply chain constraints with speed and on shore. Cyclic Materials’ rare earth recycling will provide a domestic supply of rare earths that supports the robust manufacturing sector, increases national security, and enables growth across AI, defense, automotive and other major industries.

ERI, which recycles more than one million pounds of electronic waste every day, will leverage its global collection network and eight U.S.-based recycling centers to pre-process and send materials containing rare earth magnets and other critical materials to Cyclic Materials for rare earth recovery.

The companies have begun conducting sample analysis to qualify products for rare earth recycling, and have so far identified multiple high volume product categories that will be sent to Cyclic Materials.

Additionally, Cyclic Materials will also recover other critical materials such as copper and aluminum in its process. Feedstock will be sent primarily to Cyclic Materials’ Arizona operations, where the company has a facility capable of processing up to 25,000 tonnes of end-of-life components annually in the U.S.

Ahmad Ghahreman, CEO and Founder of Cyclic Materials, said, “Together with John’s team, we are creating a new supply of rare earths by unlocking materials already in circulation and recirculating them into the supply chain, which derisks foreign trade tensions, increases supply chain resilience, and strengthens national security.”

ERI Chairman and CEO John Shegerian, stated, “Cyclic’s innovative technology and state-of-the-art facility provide commercial capabilities that make the circularity of heavy rare earth elements more accessible than ever before.”

About ERI and Cyclic Materials

Cyclic Materials is building a resilient supply chain for rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical materials through the recycling of magnet-containing end-of-life products.

ERI is the leading international material resource recovery, ITAD and tech reuse and recycling company.