Toronto-based cleantech innovator Cyclic Materials has announced a $34 million investment to establish North America’s first Centre of Excellence for rare earth element (REE) recycling in Kingston, Ontario.
Slated to open in early 2026, the 140,000-square-foot facility will serve as the company’s industrial and innovation hub—combining full-scale commercial processing with advanced R&D to tackle one of the energy transition’s most urgent supply chain challenges.
Rare earth elements such as Neodymium, Praseodymium, Terbium, and Dysprosium are essential for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and consumer electronics. Yet fewer than 1% of these critical materials are currently recycled, and the global supply remains heavily concentrated in a handful of jurisdictions.
“With this Centre of Excellence, we’re advancing our core mission: to secure the most critical elements of the energy transition through circular innovation,” said Cyclic Materials CEO Ahmad Ghahreman. “Kingston is where Cyclic began—and now it’s where we’re anchoring our commercial future.”
The new facility will house Cyclic’s first commercial “Hub” processing unit using the company’s proprietary REEPure℠ technology to convert 500 tonnes of magnet-rich feedstock into recycled Mixed Rare Earth Oxide (rMREO) annually. Feedstock will be sourced from both Cyclic’s Arizona-based “Spoke,” which processes end-of-life products, and a growing network of manufacturing partners.
Cyclic has already secured a major offtake agreement with specialty chemicals company Solvay and aims to supply key players across the magnet value chain.
Alongside commercial operations, the Kingston site will feature a state-of-the-art R&D centre with advanced laboratories and a pilot-scale “mini-Spoke” line. These facilities will accelerate innovation across the rare earth recycling process and support next-generation cleantech development.
The investment is expected to create 45 new skilled jobs in the Kingston area, with over 20 hires already made. Recruitment is underway for plant operators, process technicians, and research staff.
“We are thrilled to see Cyclic Materials’ significant investment to establish their Centre of Excellence and Hub in Kingston,” said Shelley Hirstwood, Director of Business Development at Kingston Economic Development Corporation. “This announcement not only creates high-quality jobs in the community but is a reflection of the expertise, talent, and supportive ecosystem Kingston has to offer.”
The project builds on Cyclic’s longstanding collaborations with local partners, including Queen’s University, Kingston Process Metallurgy (KPM), RXN Hub, and Impact Chemistry. It is also supported by national innovation programs from Natural Resources Canada, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), and the National Research Council of Canada.
Cyclic Materials is scaling its vision of a circular supply chain for rare earth elements with strategic partnerships including Solvay, Glencore, Lime, and Sims Lifecycle Services. The Kingston facility marks a major step toward building a resilient, low-impact, North American ecosystem for rare earth magnet recycling.