First UK iPhones dismantled by Apple’s recycling robot
Wednesday, June 29, 2016 - 14:16:35
Earlier this year Apple made a song and dance about the fact that it has built a robot specifically to take on the task of dismantling old iPhones so that they can be recycled. And now the first devices collected in the UK are being processed by the machine, which is affectionately known as Liam.
The Mirror reports that Apple received many thousands of old iPhones from customers in the UK, many of which were handed over by customers visiting its high street stores in major cities. While it has operated a recycling and buy back scheme in the past, the use of this new robot means that it is now personally responsible for overseeing the crucial stages of this sustainable process.
Using 29 arms and attachments, Liam can strip an iPhone in as little as 11 seconds and is built to handle a range of different models from over the years, including newer iPhone 6 handsets.
The main purpose of the machine is to allow the precious materials, including gold and platinum which are used internally, to be reclaimed and harnessed for reuse in the manufacturing of other products.
Interestingly, Apple only reuses the SIM card tray from the iPhones it recycles, claiming that the rest of the components and materials will not be of a high enough quality for it to put straight back into brand new handsets.
Company spokesperson, Lisa Jackson, confirmed that in the long term Apple is keen to make its iPhones fully recyclable, meaning there is no need to mine for more raw materials to build devices in the future.
Of course whichever recycling firm you choose, you can sell your old iPhone online and get money back to spend on a new device, safe in the knowledge that it will be handled responsibly.
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