Kuwait’s MRC to launch advanced steel recycling facility in 2025

KUWAIT – Metal Recycling Company (MRC), one of Kuwait’s leading environmental services providers, is set to begin operations at its new steel recycling facility in 2025, a move that marks a significant step forward for the country’s circular economy and decarbonization efforts.

The development, revealed in the 2024 Sustainability Report by Agility Public Warehousing Company (listed in both Kuwait and Dubai), highlights MRC’s commitment to expanding its sustainable infrastructure.

The plant, now under construction, is designed to process up to 60,000 tonnes of scrap steel annually, a capacity that could eliminate between 20,000 and 90,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions each year, depending on the input mix and recycling efficiencies.

The steel recycling initiative comes at a time when Gulf countries are intensifying their focus on waste management and carbon footprint reduction.

By locally recycling scrap metal, MRC helps minimize the need for virgin steel production and reduces reliance on energy-intensive imports.

This aligns with Kuwait’s broader climate goals and supports regional sustainability targets, particularly those aligned with Vision 2035.

Given that steel production is one of the world’s largest industrial sources of carbon emissions, this facility could play a pivotal role in Kuwait’s low-carbon transition, while positioning MRC as a regional leader in sustainable metals management.

Diversifying waste management capabilities

In addition to its work in metal recycling, MRC currently operates four of Kuwait’s five medical waste incineration plants, handling roughly 40 tonnes of hazardous medical waste daily, or 14,600 tonnes per year.

This critical service ensures the safe disposal of biomedical waste in compliance with health and environmental standards.

MRC’s expanding portfolio also includes a licensed battery recycling operation set to commence in 2025.

The battery recycling project is a key response to the growing volume of e-waste and the urgent need for closed-loop systems that recover valuable materials from end-of-life electronics.

Furthermore, in 2024, MRC received a letter of award from the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) to construct a spent catalyst metal reclamation facility.

This upcoming plant will recover precious metals using a zero-waste process, reducing both the cross-border movement of hazardous waste and the associated emissions.

It marks a new frontier for MRC—applying advanced metallurgy to support sustainable refining practices.

With these projects, MRC is evolving from a conventional recycler to a critical player in industrial resource recovery, offering a model for sustainable infrastructure in the GCC.

Its investments reflect a broader shift in Kuwait’s industrial sector—from waste disposal to resource optimization and climate-smart operations.

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