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Recyclekaro Launches Research Hub for Rare Earth Recovery and Advanced Materials in Maharashtra

Recyclekaro, a company specialising in e-waste and lithium-ion battery recycling, has set up a Rare Earths and Advanced Materials Research Centre in Wada, located in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. The new facility marks a strategic step toward advancing urban mining and strengthening India’s critical mineral recovery ecosystem.

The five-acre research centre is designed to focus on the extraction of rare earth elements and advanced materials from discarded electronics, lithium-ion batteries, and complex e-waste streams. By enabling domestic recovery of critical resources, the initiative supports India’s broader mineral security objectives and aims to reduce dependence on imported materials.

Planned as a long-term, research-driven platform, the centre will operate under a five-year roadmap covering rare earth extraction, advanced separation and purification methods, optimisation of battery materials, and development of scalable technologies to improve yield and material purity. Findings from the facility are expected to aid Recyclekaro’s ambition to expand its rare earth processing capacity to 20,000 metric tonnes.

Currently, Recyclekaro processes around 24,500 metric tonnes of e-waste and 10,000 metric tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste annually, providing a strong operational base for scaling up advanced material recovery initiatives.

The company has outlined plans to invest approximately Rs 500 crore by 2030 to build advanced research infrastructure and develop scientific talent. Over the next 12 to 24 months, Recyclekaro intends to onboard researchers, PhD scholars, and experts in materials science, metallurgy, and chemical engineering.

Commenting on the development, Rajesh Gupta, Founder and Managing Director of Evergreen Recyclekaro, emphasised that enhancing India’s mineral security will depend on greater recovery of materials from end-of-life products, alongside conventional mining and imports.

As part of its research strategy, Recyclekaro is collaborating with premier academic institutions such as IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Hyderabad, in addition to partnering with international firms to align its work with global best practices.

With more than 13 years of industry experience, Recyclekaro manages e-waste recycling for leading consumer electronics brands and operates nearly 1,200 collection points across the country.