The Associated Press has reported that Apple will be accepting all old products for recycling at retail stores, worldwide. This has been common practice for a while, but only for certain items and there were some complicated terms. For instance, those trying to recycle their old Macs or iPads would have to go online and fill out a form, then send it off to a remote location with a prepaid label. Those with iPhones or iPods could simply bring it into a Apple Retail Store (or also ship it off to a recycling center).
When customers bring their devices to Apple Stores, they’ll be guaranteed that it’ll be recycled, free of charge regardless of the device's condition. However if the device is in good condition and still relatively valuable, Apple will give them a store gift card as well.
Apple has offered a variety of trade-in services. Last year the company announced its own iPhone trade-in program that would allow customers to trade in their devices for an Apple Store gift-card that could go towards the purchase of a new iPhone. Whilst third parties have been offering this service for ages, Apple is one of the first manufacturers to do this first-hand. It’s thought that the iPhones Apple receives for trade in go to countries with lower per-capita incomes, so the company can still sell iPhones in developing markets.
