Apple has long been an advocate of product stewardship, and we believe that this concept extends to the proper disposal of used electronic equipment.

Earth

A holistic view

Apple takes a holistic view of recycling and waste minimisation. We apply this philosophy from the outset, beginning in the design stage by creating compact, ultra-efficient products that use high recycling-value materials wherever possible. We have instituted programmes around the world to facilitate the recycling of electronics — diverting over 9,500 tons of equipment from landfills since 1994.

Product take-back and recycling

In 2006, Apple recycled approximately 6,000 tons of e-waste, the equivalent of 9.5% of the weight of all products sold seven years earlier. We expect this percentage to grow to 13% in 2007 and to 20% in 2008. By 2010, we forecast recycling 8,600 tons of e-waste per year — nearly 30% of the product weight we sold seven years earlier.

Weight Recycled as % of Past Sales

Recycling Chart

Apple maintains a variety of recycling programmes which add to recycling totals every day:


Old iPod
  • Apple’s free recycling programme offers free and environmentally friendly disposal of your iPod or mobile phone — regardless of manufacturer or model.
  • A trade-in programme for educational and business customers in the United States has already diverted more than 270 tons of electronic waste from landfills since August 2005.
  • Apple’s recycling partnership with the city of Cupertino, California has recycled more than 340 tons of electronics. All electronics products are accepted free of charge, regardless of manufacturer.
  • We also participate in recycling programmes in Asia, including national programmes in Japan and Taiwan.

We are committed to compliance with all applicable regulations and laws in this area, worldwide.

 
California

Thinking globally, acting locally

All the e-waste we collect in North America is processed there and nothing is shipped overseas for disposal. Apple meets the requirements of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundry Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. In addition to annual compliance audits of our recycling vendors, we review the performance of their downstream vendors. Recyclers must comply with all applicable health and safety laws, and we do not allow the use of prison labour at any stage of the recycling process. Apple does not allow the disposal of hazardous electronic waste in solid waste landfills or incinerators, including waste-to-energy incinerators.

Apple strives to minimise the amount of waste generated at our company sites and operations. When waste paper, glass, metals and plastics do arise from site activities, we ensure the materials are recycled properly. Some examples include:

  • Paper: This recycling stream encompasses all cardboard packaging, as well as paper from manuals and other printed materials. These materials are sent to processing mills, where they undergo a hydro-pulping process to produce new paper-based products such as cardboard boxes and tissues. Typically, over 95 percent of the material is recycled in this process.
  • Foam: Protective foam is remanufactured into new foam products as well as a variety of other materials, such as carpet padding and substitute wood products (eg: crown moulding or baseboard).
  • Batteries: Batteries are removed and sent to specialist battery recyclers for dedicated metals and plastics treatment.

*Total weight of equipment recycled worldwide. Does not include units that are refurbished or reused.