Apple Expands Recycling Program to Europe
Photo: Apple
In August, Earth911 reported that Apple was buying unwanted iPhones, iPads and computers from customers in exchange for gift cards. After a successful trial in the states, the tech giant is now expanding its buy-back recycling program to the U.K., France and Germany, the company announced last week.
Like the American program, consumers simply fill out an online form describing their device and mail it to a local subcontractor via pre-paid shipping.
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Contractors asses the device to determine its market value. But instead of receiving gift cards, Euro techies will get a direct deposit for the value into their bank accounts, Apple said on its U.K. Website.
If the product cannot be reused and does not have any monetary value, it will be recycled for free, the company said. But products in good condition can rake in big bucks. The estimated value of a 32GB iPhone 4S in good condition is €350, while a first-generation iPad is worth around €130.
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Apple disassembles used devices and recovers components like glass, metal and plastic for reuse. With materials reprocessing and component reuse, the company recovers up to 90 percent of the original product, Apple said.
