ERI and Cyclic Materials Partner to Scale Rare Earth Recovery from E-Waste — Electronic Recyclers International

Event summary

ERI and Cyclic Materials signed a global partnership on July 21, 2026 to create one of the largest rare earth recovery ecosystems in the U.S.
The alliance combines ERI’s nationwide e-waste collection network with Cyclic Materials’ rare earth refining technology.
Initial focus includes multiple high-volume product categories containing rare earth magnets.
Cyclic Materials’ Arizona facility can process up to 25,000 tonnes of end-of-life components annually.

The big picture

This partnership addresses growing concerns over rare earth supply chain vulnerabilities by leveraging existing e-waste streams. As governments push for domestic sourcing of critical minerals, the alliance positions both companies to capitalize on policy-driven demand across defense, automotive, and AI sectors. The collaboration could set a precedent for how end-of-life electronics are treated as valuable material resources rather than waste.

What we're watching

Scale of Operations: Whether the partnership can achieve commercial-scale rare earth recovery to meaningfully impact U.S. supply chains.
Regulatory Tailwinds: How government priorities for domestic critical mineral supplies will accelerate or hinder this initiative.
Technology Integration: The pace at which ERI’s AI-driven sorting and Cyclic Materials’ refining processes can be optimized together.