13 Apr 2026
DEScycle to trial its distributed e-waste metals recovery platform with Cisco materials
London, UK - 13 April 2026 - DEScycle, a developer of next-generation metals processing infrastructure, today announced that global technology leader Cisco will trial its distributed, modular metals recovery platform to process electronic scrap boards derived from Cisco hardware at DEScycle’s demonstration plant in Wilton, UK.
The trial is designed to evaluate the performance of DEScycle’s demo unit at a large batch scale, generating recovery data and techno-economic analysis.
The collaboration builds on the existing relationship between Cisco and DEScycle, following Cisco’s participation in DEScycle’s 2024 Series A funding round.
Demonstrating a new model for metals recovery
Global demand for critical and precious metals continues to accelerate, driven by AI infrastructure, electrification, and advanced manufacturing. At the same time, existing smelting-based recovery systems remain capital- and energy-intensive, and geographically concentrated. DEScycle is building a distributed, modular metals processing platform designed to operate closer to feedstock sources, shortening value chains and enabling repeatable, capital-efficient deployment.
For the trial, Cisco hardware will be disassembled, and e-scrap boards will be collected for DEScycle processing. The demo plant will process material in controlled batches, targeting high recovery rates across critical metals and precious metals.
The primary objective is to demonstrate consistent recovery performance at demonstration scale and to provide Cisco with transparent recovery and process data. The trial will also assess how DEScycle’s platform could integrate into existing reverse supply chains, with traceability data made available throughout the process.
Mary de Wysocki, SVP & Chief Sustainability Officer at Cisco, said:
“Cisco has a longstanding commitment to a more sustainable supply chain and to exploring practical and innovative approaches to end-of-life services that reduce waste and deliver business value to customers. Exploring this technology supports our strategy."
Fred White, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at DEScycle, said:
“This trial is an important step in demonstrating how distributed, modular metals processing can integrate into existing electronics value chains. Cisco recognised early the structural opportunity to rethink how critical materials are recovered, and we are pleased to now be progressing from bench-scale validation to demonstration-scale deployment.
Our objective is clear: to demonstrate that we can provide a robust, economically competitive, and environmentally conscious recovery route, underpinned by transparent performance data and traceability. More broadly, this collaboration supports the development of capital-efficient metals recovery capacity aligned with circular economy principles.”