Apple's In-Store Reuse and Recycling Program Now Offering Trade-In Credit for Used iPads

As part of a larger green initiative to help consumers recycle old iOS devices, Apple is now expanding its Reuse & Recycling program in the U.S. and Canada to include the iPad, reports 9to5Mac. Apple also is making it easier for consumers to purchase new devices with more flexible terms for applying in-store credits obtained when recycling an iOS device.

apple_recycling_program
Previously, Apple's in-store Reuse & Recycling program accepted only iPhone models, which customers could trade-in for a store credit that could be used to purchase a new iPhone. Under this new plan, Apple will accept either an iPad or an iPhone for trade-in and will issue a credit that can be used towards a new purchase.

Customers may apply this credit towards a new iPhone or iPad, regardless of which device they are trading in, and they can even combine iPad and iPhone credits (with a limit of one of each device type) to apply toward the purchase of a new device. For example, a customer could trade-in an iPhone 5 and an iPad 2 to receive credits that can be combined to purchase a new iPad Air.

Apple yesterday confirmed it was expanding its Reuse & Recycling program to include all devices, regardless of their condition. Besides the iPad, Apple will accept for free any broken or older model Apple product providing customers with a way to easily recycle the device responsibly. If a recycled iPhone or iPad has some remaining value as determined by in-store Apple Specialists, Apple will issue a store credit.

apple_green_banner
This expansion is part of Apple's Earth Day celebration that began with the company's "Better" environmental campaign, which highlighted Apple's environmental efforts across its supply chain, its data centers and in its new Apple Campus 2 project. Apple also is commemorating Earth Day at its retail stores by placing a green leaf on its traditionally white Apple logo and issuing green t-shirts to its retail employees.

Related Roundups: iPad, iPad mini
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

Apple Announces Special Event in New York Feature

Apple Announces Special Event in New York, London, and Shanghai on March 4

Monday February 16, 2026 6:05 am PST by
Apple today announced a "special Apple Experience" in New York, London, and Shanghai, taking place on March 4, 2026 at 9:00am ET. Apple invited select members of the media to the event in three major cities around the world. It is simply described as a "special Apple Experience," and there is no further information about what it may entail. The invitation features a 3D Apple logo design...
M3 iPad Air

Apple's Next Two Products Are Coming Soon

Thursday February 12, 2026 11:17 am PST by
Apple plans to release an iPhone 17e and an iPad Air with an M4 chip "in the coming weeks," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple retail employees say that inventory of the iPhone 16e has basically dried out and the iPad Air is seeing shortages as well," said Gurman. "I've been expecting new versions of both (iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air) in the coming weeks."...
Apple Announces Special Event in New York Feature 1

Apple Event on March 4: Here's What to Expect

Tuesday February 17, 2026 8:08 am PST by
Apple on Monday invited selected journalists and content creators to a "special Apple Experience" on Wednesday, March 4 in New York, London, and Shanghai. At an Apple Experience, attendees are typically given the opportunity to try out Apple's latest hardware or software. Following the launch of Apple Creator Studio last month, for example, some content creators attended an Apple Experience...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

Gurman: iPhone 18 Pro Could Be Underwhelming

Monday February 16, 2026 4:24 am PST by
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models "won't be a big update," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the iPhone 18 Pro models will "represent minor tweaks from last year's iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max." He compared the upgrade to Apple's past practice of appending the letter "S" to its more minor...
Coffee Burgundy and Purple iPhone 18 Pro Mock

Five iPhone 18 Pro Features Revealed in New Report

Friday February 13, 2026 8:43 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still seven months away, an analyst has revealed five new features the devices will allegedly have. Rumored color options for the iPhone 18 Pro models In a research note with investment firm GF Securities on Thursday, analyst Jeff Pu outlined the following upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro models: Smaller Dynamic Island: It has been rumored...

Top Rated Comments

nagromme Avatar
154 months ago
... funny they should try and make out how green they are when they are the leading company at stopping you from upgrading things to make them last longer.
You may have forgotten:

- Macs have a longer useable life and better resale value than PCs.

- iPads/iPhones have a longer usable life and better resale value than Android.

If you want to talk about planned obsolescence, just look at the lack of software updates for Android devices after they have your money!

Every iPad 1 I know of is still happily in use. Every iPad 2 is able to run THE latest version of iOS!

And their claims about green energy and materials? True, well-documented, and NOT matched by the competition you wish they'd become more like.

Very few people upgrade bits inside their PCs, and even fewer inside their phones and tablets. They simply throw them away. The fantasy of widespread internal upgrades is just that.

(I do see the appeal, and I kind of wish your vision of how people use computers were true!)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Piggie Avatar
154 months ago
The funny thing is.

Apple is THE WORST company for making computing products locked down, glued together, non up-gradable.

Apple started the trend and others, seeing this works have started to copy them.

You could have an old PC for years and keep changing little bits here and there as and when, but Apple want you to throw the whole unit away and buy a whole new one.

So funny they should try and make out how green they are when they are the leading company at stopping you from upgrading things to make them last longer.

----------

Just go to the site and they’ve got a value estimator:

http://store.apple.com/us/iphone/reuse-and-recycling

That’s good for iPads and other devices too (even though it indicates “iPhone”)

Apple iPad 1st Generation 32GB (Wi-Fi)
Estimate provided by PowerON:
$55.00


haa haa haaa
:D
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
154 months ago
Yeah because most consumers want to deal with upgrading internal parts in their devices. BS. People want the latest and greatest, they want shiny and new.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
154 months ago

You could have an old PC for years and keep changing little bits here and there as and when, but Apple want you to throw the whole unit away and buy a whole new one.
What is the difference throwing away "little bits" over years vs the whole thing at once? Sounds like you've thrown away more in total than someone getting a Mac every few years. Maybe you should just worry about your own recycling. Apple is one place you can do that.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
154 months ago
The funny thing is.

Apple is THE WORST company for making computing products locked down, glued together, non up-gradable.

Apple started the trend and others, seeing this works have started to copy them.

You could have an old PC for years and keep changing little bits here and there as and when, but Apple want you to throw the whole unit away and buy a whole new one.

So funny they should try and make out how green they are when they are the leading company at stopping you from upgrading things to make them last longer.

----------



Apple iPad 1st Generation 32GB (Wi-Fi)
Estimate provided by PowerON:
$55.00


haa haa haaa
:D
Given that laptops, phones and tablets are mostly not upgradeable anyway, your comment seems to be relevant only when talking about desktop computers (except the Mac Pro which is upgradeable). That means only the iMac and Mac mini, ie. 2 products out of Apple’s entire range.

My parents are still using my first generation iPhone and iPad, and my MacBook Pro is over 6 years old now and I still use it as my main machine running Mavericks. I don’t have confidence in other brands to deliver this kind of longevity, upgradeable parts/replaceable batteries or not.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D.T. Avatar
154 months ago
Just go to the site and they’ve got a value estimator:

http://store.apple.com/us/iphone/reuse-and-recycling

That’s good for iPads and other devices too (even though it indicates “iPhone”)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)