Apple’s iPhone Recycling Robots are Ready for Earth Day

Apple has long been focused on sustainability and reducing e-waste. Its first carbon-neutral product, the Apple Watch Series 9, and its comprehensive trade-in and recycling programs are a few examples of Apple’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact, and the company plans to be fully carbon-neutral by the year 2030.

Yesterday, just in time for Earth Day (April 22), Apple released a video on its UK YouTube page claiming its recycling robots can now recycle materials from 23 iPhone models. If you’re upgrading and aren’t considering trading in or keeping your old iPhone, please recycle it. There’s a good chance Apple will accept it.

You can recycle your old iPhone by bringing it to an Apple Store or arranging online to send it in if it’s not eligible for any trade-in value. Apple uses a custom-built robot named ‘Daisy’ to disassemble iPhones and recover valuable materials and rare earth elements. Daisy is capable of disassembling and sorting the leftover components of 200 iPhones per hour or 1.2 million iPhones per year. This recycling effort reduces the need to mine more resources, like tungsten, from the earth.

In 2019, Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives said:

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Advanced recycling must become an important part of the electronics supply chain, and Apple is pioneering a new path to help push our industry forward.” Apple makes it easy for consumers to trade or recycle iPhones both in Apple Stores and online…We work hard to design products that our customers can rely on for a long time. When it comes time to recycle them, we hope that the convenience and benefit of our programs will encourage everyone to bring in their old devices.

Apple’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact is commendable. As a tech giant, Apple’s practices influence the broader industry and drive innovation in recycling practices and technologies. They also raise consumer awareness. Remember, Apple’s initiatives toward a more sustainable future depend upon your participation. Trade or recycle your old iPhone (and other electronics) and encourage your friends and family to do the same.