09/10/2023
This is how an iPhone is recycled
On average, an iPhone is replaced with a newer model after two years. What happens to the old phone varies. Some people keep it for emergencies, while others trade it in for a discount on the newest device. If you choose to trade it in, the smartphone is either refurbished or recycled.
For this reason, most iPhones that are refurbished come from the business market. These phones are generally less heavily used than personal smartphones, resulting in less wear and tear, both inside and outside. This minimizes the number of parts that need to be replaced, and the wear marks are minimal. This way, you get the best-looking refurbished iPhone.
However, Apple does not handle the refurbishment process itself. When an iPhone qualifies for refurbishing, it’s sold to a third-party company that takes on the refurbishing process. The purchased iPhones are then fully inspected, wiped clean, sanitized, and repaired if necessary. Refurbishing is also known as revising. After the refurbishing process, the phone is sold again and gets a second life with a new owner. Refurbishing is essentially a form of recycling, but it’s even better for the environment! It reduces CO2 emissions, and the phones have a longer lifespan.
The screen is removed first, followed by the battery. All the loose parts are carefully sorted into large bins. Next, all the screws holding the components together are punched out at once, as unscrewing them one by one would take too long. Other parts such as the camera, speaker, circuit board, and even the Apple logo on the back are separated and placed in individual bins. The back of the phone is removed and sorted based on the material it’s made from since not all iPhones have the same housing material.
This process takes about 18 seconds per iPhone. Daisy’s predecessor from 2014 took 12 minutes to do the same. Theoretically, Daisy can dismantle 1.2 million iPhones per year. How many iPhones the robot actually dismantles remains unknown, as Apple does not disclose this information. However, it’s clear that Daisy doesn’t reach the 1.2 million mark.
By fully dismantling the phones, the components can be reused. For instance, the gold in iPhones is melted down for use in new models, along with the silver, platinum, and copper. The magnets in the speakers are also reusable. Aluminum is reused in the casing of other products. Today, new MacBook Pros, iPads, and Apple Watches are housed in 100% recycled material.
Parts that don’t get a second life go through the shredder. This is partly to prevent these parts from ending up with competitors who might copy Apple’s technology. Additionally, shredding is a safe way to destroy electronic waste. Data carriers are rendered irretrievable, ensuring that your data is safe as a former owner. This method of recycling also produces a pure byproduct. Recycling isn't always done this way—often, products are only partially or not at all dismantled.
So, if you have an old iPhone lying around at home, take it to a collection point! Parts might be reused, and it’s a responsible solution for your electronic waste!
Refurbished
When an iPhone is traded in, the first step is to erase all the data on the phone, ensuring it doesn’t end up with someone else by accident. Then, it's determined whether the device is suitable for second-hand resale, which means it will be refurbished. Most of the components must still be in good condition for this. If not, too many parts would need to be collected and replaced.For this reason, most iPhones that are refurbished come from the business market. These phones are generally less heavily used than personal smartphones, resulting in less wear and tear, both inside and outside. This minimizes the number of parts that need to be replaced, and the wear marks are minimal. This way, you get the best-looking refurbished iPhone.
However, Apple does not handle the refurbishment process itself. When an iPhone qualifies for refurbishing, it’s sold to a third-party company that takes on the refurbishing process. The purchased iPhones are then fully inspected, wiped clean, sanitized, and repaired if necessary. Refurbishing is also known as revising. After the refurbishing process, the phone is sold again and gets a second life with a new owner. Refurbishing is essentially a form of recycling, but it’s even better for the environment! It reduces CO2 emissions, and the phones have a longer lifespan.
Recycled
When an iPhone isn’t eligible for refurbishing, the actual recycling process begins. Apple has two large robots that dismantle old iPhones—one in Texas and one in the Netherlands, in Breda. This robot, called Daisy, recognizes nearly all iPhone models, from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 12 and their variations. The iPhones are completely taken apart so the materials from the components can be reused.The screen is removed first, followed by the battery. All the loose parts are carefully sorted into large bins. Next, all the screws holding the components together are punched out at once, as unscrewing them one by one would take too long. Other parts such as the camera, speaker, circuit board, and even the Apple logo on the back are separated and placed in individual bins. The back of the phone is removed and sorted based on the material it’s made from since not all iPhones have the same housing material.
This process takes about 18 seconds per iPhone. Daisy’s predecessor from 2014 took 12 minutes to do the same. Theoretically, Daisy can dismantle 1.2 million iPhones per year. How many iPhones the robot actually dismantles remains unknown, as Apple does not disclose this information. However, it’s clear that Daisy doesn’t reach the 1.2 million mark.
By fully dismantling the phones, the components can be reused. For instance, the gold in iPhones is melted down for use in new models, along with the silver, platinum, and copper. The magnets in the speakers are also reusable. Aluminum is reused in the casing of other products. Today, new MacBook Pros, iPads, and Apple Watches are housed in 100% recycled material.
Parts that don’t get a second life go through the shredder. This is partly to prevent these parts from ending up with competitors who might copy Apple’s technology. Additionally, shredding is a safe way to destroy electronic waste. Data carriers are rendered irretrievable, ensuring that your data is safe as a former owner. This method of recycling also produces a pure byproduct. Recycling isn't always done this way—often, products are only partially or not at all dismantled.
So, if you have an old iPhone lying around at home, take it to a collection point! Parts might be reused, and it’s a responsible solution for your electronic waste!