Critical Materials Recycling and Paladin EnviroTech have launched REcapture, a joint venture focused on recovering rare earths from electronics and industrial waste. | Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock
Critical Materials Recycling and Paladin EnviroTech have announced the creation of a joint venture called REcapture, aimed at capturing and recycling rare earth elements from consumer, automotive and industrial electronics.
The companies said the collaboration brings together Critical Materials Recycling’s advanced recovery systems with Paladin’s environmental technology platform and electronics collection network. The goal, they said, is to strengthen the domestic supply of strategic materials used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and other technologies that rely on magnets containing rare earth elements.
Critical Materials Recycling, known as CMR, said its scalable recovery process was originally developed at Ames National Laboratory. The company’s technology extracts rare earth oxides such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium from end-of-life products including motors, speakers, hard drives and other components. These elements are essential in producing high-strength permanent magnets used across manufacturing and clean-energy industries.
Company officials said REcapture will integrate CMR’s proprietary refining capabilities with Paladin’s data-driven sourcing, collection and processing systems. The objective is to divert materials from waste streams, recover valuable metals and support the development of a circular economy within the United States.
“Our mission with REcapture is simple yet transformative: to make rare earth recycling as accessible and impactful as ferrous or copper recycling,” said Dan Bina, CEO of Critical Materials Recycling and co-chair of REcapture. “By integrating our recovery technology with Paladin’s collection and processing systems, we can divert strategic materials from waste streams and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.”
Paladin EnviroTech, which provides IT asset management and recycling services globally, said the new venture represents a continuation of its focus on responsible electronics handling and materials recovery.
“REcapture is a natural evolution of our work,” said Brian Diesselhorst, Paladin CEO and co-chair of REcapture. “By combining CMR’s rare earth recovery expertise with our sourcing, collection and processing capabilities, we’re delivering a practical, data-driven solution to one of the most pressing resource challenges of our time.”
According to the announcement, REcapture’s initial collection systems are already in operation across North America, serving industrial and consumer electronics recycling partners. The companies said they plan to expand the network through partnerships with manufacturers, recyclers and other organizations involved in the recovery of end-of-life electronics.
The venture will focus on improving capture rates of rare earth materials and strengthening domestic processing infrastructure. While the companies did not disclose production capacity or financial terms, the announcement framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to reinforce critical materials supply chains within the United States.
Critical Materials Recycling described itself as a leader in advanced materials recovery, emphasizing its commitment to recapturing valuable elements from complex waste streams. The company said it works through proprietary processes and strategic partnerships to support sustainable sourcing and manufacturing in the energy, technology and defense sectors.
Paladin EnviroTech was founded to provide transparent and secure IT asset management on a global scale. Backed by SER Capital Partners, the company manages surplus, end-of-life and obsolete electronics equipment. Its operations combine IT Asset Disposition and end-of-life recycling, supported by a proprietary software platform that allows clients to track, report and manage electronics securely throughout the recycling process.
The companies said the combination of Paladin’s integrated collection systems with CMR’s refining technology will allow REcapture to recover rare earth materials efficiently and sustainably while minimizing environmental impact. Both organizations emphasized that the initiative aims to promote responsible recycling practices and create a stronger domestic foundation for future magnet production and supply security.
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