New rare earth recycling facility to process 25,000 tonnes of scrap and e-waste annually

Cyclic Materials creates a circular supply chain for rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical materials. Now, the company has invested more than USD $20M in its first commercial facility, located in Mesa, Arizona. The new facility will be the company's first global REE recycling operation focused on the separation of permanent magnets from end-of-life products previously not recovered, using the MagCycle process. 

Driving the push to reuse scrap across industries

As part of the company's commitment to building a sustainable ecosystem, Cyclic Materials is establishing a feedstock supply network that will serve the entire U.S. While the company has already secured partnerships in the Southwest — a region with an estimated 155,000 tonnes per year of end-of-life components from automotive and e-scrap metals — it is actively expanding its reach nationwide to develop a more robust and scalable supply chain.

Recruitment for the first hires at the Mesa facility is expected to begin in Q2 2025, to fill the over 30 jobs required to operate the plant. The new plant will help drive innovations in the electronic scrap and metal recycling industry while supporting local economic growth.

"We are excited to begin commercial operations in the U.S. in early 2026," said Ahmad Ghahreman, CEO and co-founder of Cyclic Materials. "We have chosen the vibrant Southwest for our first U.S. and global site to be close to feedstock that will support our mission to address the global supply-demand imbalance for rare earth materials. By developing circular supply chains, we can reduce dependence on overseas sources and secure a more stable REE supply for the future."

State officials welcomed the news, praising it as a major step toward economic growth and job creation in the region.

"This facility means more good-paying jobs in Mesa and a stronger supply chain that will power everything from electric vehicles to artificial intelligence," said Senator Mark Kelly. "Arizona is leading the way on clean energy and innovation, and this investment will make sure we build more of what we need right here."

"Cyclic Materials' investment in Mesa is a significant win for Arizona. This new facility will not only create good-paying jobs for our community but also position Arizona as a leader in the critical rare earth element recycling industry, an important step in strengthening our economy and securing a sustainable future," said Senator Ruben Gallego.

"Investing in the circular economy is vital for Greater Phoenix to continue its development as a world-class region for companies and people," said Greater Phoenix Economic Council President & CEO Chris Camacho. "Cyclic Materials complements the strong presence of data centers and EV manufacturers in the region, creating a more sustainable supply chain while strengthening the domestic availability of rare earth elements and other critical resources."