City-Smart REE Loops: Who's Reclaiming Magnets & Rare Earths from Urban Scrap in 2025?

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Cities churn out e-waste loaded with Rare Earth Elements (REEs) like neodymium—think old hard drives, EV motors, speakers. Less than 1% gets recycled, but 2025's "new USA" sees commercial ops scaling up: **hydrometallurgy, hydrogen decrepitation** pull 90–99% purity for new magnets. Amid China tensions, these urban "mines" divert 50k+ lbs yearly, slashing mining's 35% higher energy use. Here's who's leading in metros like NYC, LA, Chicago—feedstock from your curbside bins.

Rare earth Magnet Recycling from Hard Drives, Cell Phones, Electric Motors, and other electronic devices.

### 1. **Hard Drive Magnets: Data Trash to Magnet Mash**

Shredded drives yield neodymium-rich scraps → refined oxides for EVs/wind turbines.

- **Cyclic Materials** (Mesa, AZ urban hub): MagCycle process extracts 90% REEs from drives; 2025 pilot with Microsoft hit 50k lbs. Partners VAC for 100% swarf recycling at SC plant.

- **REEcycle** (TX-based, urban collection): 99.8% recovery via patented chem; buys end-of-life NdFeB magnets from data centers. $5.1M DoD grant for commercial scale-up.

- **Western Digital + PedalPoint/CMR** (CA ops): Eco-acid-free recovery from 50k lbs HDDs; feeds US supply with Au/Cu bonuses.

**City Hack**: Drop old drives at Best Buy—ships to these pros for 90% loop-back.


### 2. **EV & Consumer Magnets: Motors to Magnets**

Dismantle hybrids for dysprosium/praseodymium → short-loop re-mags.

- **HyProMag USA** (Dallas-Fort Worth): Hydrogen processing for 750 tons/year NdFeB; partners ILS for urban HDD/EV scrap. Online 2027, but 2025 pilots hit 1,500 tons potential.

- **Noveon Magnetics** (San Marcos, TX): Grain-boundary tech recycles 99% magnets from e-waste; urban pilots with TdVib for 2 tons/month oxides from drives.

- **Okon Recycling** (Dallas metro): Hydromet buys/ reclaims neodymium scrap; 43% price jump in 2025 for urban hauls.

**City Hack**: Tesla service centers partner for battery/motor drop-offs—routes to HyProMag.


### 3. **Big Tech & Producer Loops: Devices to Defense**

StageWhatWhereWho
1. CreationREEs mined → oxidesMountain Pass, CAMP Materials
2. UseOxides → NdFeB magnets → EVs, turbinesTX, KY, CA factoriesNoveon, Apple, Tesla
3. End-of-LifeOld drives/motors collectedNYC, LA, Chicago binsBest Buy, Staples
4. ReuseMagnets reclaimed → new partsUrban plantsCyclic Materials, REEcycle

OEMs close the circle with certified recovery.

- **Apple + MP Materials** (Mountain Pass, CA): $500M for recycled REE facility; 100% magnets in devices from urban e-waste. Fort Worth plant feeds iPhones/EVs.

- **ReElement Technologies (American Resources Corp)** (IN urban plant): Chromatography pulls REEs from batteries/magnets; $2M DoD grant, 75% less energy.

- **Urban Mining Company** (TX): 90%+ recovery from city e-waste; closed-loop for neodymium in phones/tools.

**City Hack**: Apple stores take old iPhones—Daisy robot extracts magnets for MP.


### Why 2025? Urban Edge

REEs demand hits 305kt REO; recycling could cover 20–30% from e-waste. DoD/EPA funds boost: $92M for Mkango's DFW plant. Cuts CO₂ 70%, secures vs. China 90% grip.

StepActionWin
1Sort e-waste: Drives/motors separate.99% recovery boost.
2Drop at Staples/Best Buy hubs.Free to Cyclic/REEcycle.
3Biz? Partner Okon for scrap buyback.$1–$4.50/lb payout.
4Track: Use EPA's e-waste map.Certify your loop.

https://globalewaste.org/map/ 


These ops reclaim 600k tons potential—your old phone powers tomorrow's turbine.


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