Apple’s $500M Push to Recycle Rare-Earth Magnets: Why It Matters for All of Us
Apple has just announced a $500 million investment in MP Materials to build a rare-earth magnet recycling facility in Mountain Pass, California.
Apple’s $500M Push to Recycle Rare-Earth Magnets: Why It Matters for All of Us
Apple has just announced a $500 million investment in MP Materials to build a rare-earth magnet recycling facility in Mountain Pass, California. Starting in 2027, this partnership will close a critical loop — turning recycled magnets from old electronics into new magnets for millions of Apple devices.
What’s the Big Deal?
Rare-earth magnets—found in countless devices like smartphones, headphones, speakers, wind turbines, and electric vehicles—are essential yet environmentally expensive to produce when mined conventionally. Apple has already been using recycled rare-earths in its Taptic Engines since 2019, but this investment scales that effort nationally, moving toward a circular supply chain for these critical materials.
Why This Matters for E-Waste
Apple’s move goes beyond industrial optics—it signals a shift in how electronic waste is treated. By investing in a facility that will recycle magnets from old devices and reintroduce them into new ones, Apple is closing the loop on a previously linear product lifecycle. This not only reduces reliance on mining—often concentrated in ecologically sensitive and geopolitically risky regions—but also cuts carbon emissions and toxic byproducts.
For the e-waste ecosystem, Apple’s investment is more than symbolic; it catalyzes a shift in industry economics. When recycling magnets becomes cost-effective and scalable, companies and municipalities have greater incentive to collect and process devices like hard drives, speakers, and other magnet-containing products. That growth in infrastructure directly benefits RecycleOldTech users, as more drop-off centers and processing facilities will be added to our directory. This increased availability improves local access for responsible electronics disposal and enriches our database with new listings.
How you can help
As a visitor to RecycleOldTech, you may soon find recycling sites participating in Apple’s rare-earth initiative in your region, especially in California and Texas. Our team is monitoring developments closely and will update our listings as soon as new magnet-focused centers go live. Your participation matters—dropping off devices containing magnets helps feed this circular system and powers the next generation of tech.
Global Urgency
Apple’s announcement also reinforces the environmental urgency surrounding e-waste. By designating resources and establishing domestic recycling facilities, Apple signals a commitment to sustainable practices and encourages consumers to make informed choices. Properly recycling an old speaker or printer today has far-reaching implications—it helps recover valuable materials, shrinks mining activity, and supports cleaner manufacturing chains. It’s a tangible reminder that recycling at the local level contributes to global outcomes.
Moving Forward
For RecycleOldTech, this news is a moment to weave global progress into local impact. Our site will soon surface magnet-specific recycler listings, and we encourage you to check our California and Texas pages frequently for updates. Your role in responsibly disposing of tech today helps build a cleaner, more circular tomorrow.