Earth Day is right around the corner, and what better way to gear up for it than heading into the iconic Apple Store on Fifth Avenue, with old devices ready to be recycled. I finally decided to tackle that drawer, the one filled with frayed cables, outdated accessories, and iPhones. Totally worth it!
What I discovered that day was more than just a place to drop off my tech clutter. I found a full-on sustainability mission from Apple. So here’s what I learned (and experienced!) that might inspire you to do the same.
Spring Cleaning, Apple Style
We all have that drawer. Apple knows it, too, and they’re using this Earth Day season to encourage all of us to clean it out. Whether it’s a broken cable, a cracked iPad, or an Apple Watch you haven’t worn since 2019, they want it. And they make it incredibly easy to part ways with those old pieces of tech.
I brought in two older devices, both of which had been sitting unused for years. A friendly Apple team member greeted me, took the items for inspection, and explained what would happen next. Spoiler: it wasn’t the landfill.
What Happens When You Recycle with Apple?
Once Apple receives your old gear, it doesn’t just toss it aside. First, it evaluates it to see if it can be refurbished. If it can, it’s off to AppleCare for a second (or third!) life. If it’s beyond repair, the materials are responsibly recycled.
And get this—Apple has built a robot named Daisy that can disassemble iPhones with surgical precision. She can take apart up to 200 phones per hour and recover valuable materials like gold, cobalt, and tungsten. That means fewer new materials have to be mined, which is a huge win for the planet.
Honestly, I had no idea tech recycling could be this smart—and efficient.
Pass It On or Trade It In
One thing I really appreciated during my visit was learning that recycling isn’t the only option. If your device is still in good condition, Apple encourages you to pass it on to someone else—especially things like Apple Watches, which can offer real health benefits.
There’s also Apple Trade In, which lets you get credit toward a new device or an Apple Gift Card. It’s simple—you either bring your device to the store like I did, or send it in with a prepaid box Apple provides. They even give you a trade-in estimate on the spot in store.
Repairs That Actually Make Sense
One of the Apple specialists also walked me through how they’re designing products with durability and repair in mind. Many newer devices—like the iPhone 16—can have up to 12 individual parts repaired or replaced. That includes everything from the screen to the speaker.
Even better? Apple has brought down the cost of these repairs, making it more accessible to extend the life of your device instead of replacing it.
Apple’s Bigger Picture: Apple 2030
Apple isn’t stopping with Earth Day. They’ve got a big goal: to be completely carbon-neutral across their entire footprint by 2030. That includes the supply chain, product use, and everything in between. They’ve already reduced emissions by over 55% since 2015, and their offices and retail stores have been running on 100% renewable energy since 2018.
Even new products like the MacBook Air and iPhone 16e are designed with recycled materials—from cobalt in the batteries to aluminum in the enclosures. It’s impressive, and makes me feel better about investing in tech that’s trying to do better for the environment.
Bonus: A Little Thank You for Doing Good
Here’s a fun perk: starting April 16, if you bring in an eligible item to recycle at an Apple Store, you’ll get 10% off an Apple accessory. I didn’t even know about this until I showed up, and it was a nice surprise—it made my Earth Day mission even sweeter.
Final Thoughts: It’s Worth the Trip
Honestly, walking into the Apple Store with a bag of old electronics and walking out knowing they’d be reused or recycled responsibly felt really good. Whether you’re local to NYC like me or live closer to another Apple Store, this is one of the easiest ways to do something meaningful for the planet.
Or hey, you can even recycle online—they’ll send you everything you need. No excuses!
So, this Earth Day, maybe it’s time to tackle that drawer. I promise, it’s way more satisfying than you think.