Apple Product Recycling Guide

Table of Contents

• About This Guide
• Product Identification
• 2012/19/EU Directive Annex VII Components
• Safety Precautions
• Battery Safety
• Workspace Safety Guidelines
• Handling Thermal Runaway Events
• Disassembly Steps
• Recommended Tools
• Procedures
• Product Components
• Other Resources

About This Guide

Apple's future goal is to manufacture products using only recycled and renewable materials. A key step in achieving this goal is to increase the rate of resource recovery from used electronics. The Apple Product Recycling Guide provides guidance for electronics recyclers on how to disassemble Apple products, with the aim of maximizing resource recovery. This guide details disassembly procedures and provides material composition information to help recyclers direct post-disassembly components to the appropriate recycling facilities. The disassembly procedures are intended for trained professional electronics recyclers only. Recyclers are responsible for independently assessing and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws regarding the environment, health, and safety associated with performing this work. Applicable laws include, but are not limited to, those governing the management, handling, and disposal of waste generated by this work, as well as those ensuring the health and safety of all personnel involved in this work.

For questions or comments regarding this guide, please email contactesci@apple.com.

Product Identification

For more information on how to identify your iPad model, please visit the following support pages:

https://support.apple.com/106343

https://support.apple.com/108043

2012/19/EU Directive Annex VII Components

The requirements stipulated in Annex VII of the 2012/19/EU Directive apply to the following materials and components:

Note: Refer to the "Product Components" section on page 8 of this document for the location of materials and components requiring segregation. Other item locations: The USB-C charging cable connects to the bottom of the device (where the port is located), and the other end of the cable connects to the power adapter.

Safety Precautions

Recyclers are responsible for independently assessing and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws regarding the environment, health, and safety for all actions performed by themselves or their personnel. This includes, but is not limited to, laws pertaining to the health and safety of all personnel performing or assisting with the work. Recyclers are also responsible for assessing the workspace. Ensure that the work area is designed according to ergonomic best practices and meets all ergonomic requirements to protect personnel.

To ensure the safety of recycler personnel and mitigate all hazards, handle damaged OLEDs with care. Recyclers must store damaged OLEDs in appropriate containers and ensure that any hazards associated with OLED materials are prevented. OLEDs should also be stored with materials that do not react chemically. All waste must be properly sorted, packaged, and labeled in accordance with all applicable laws.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Hand protection: Wear gloves.
• Eye protection: Wear safety goggles.
• Body protection: Wear protective clothing.
• Foot protection: Wear protective footwear.
• Mask protection: Wear a mask.

Battery Safety

This product uses a lithium-ion polymer battery. To safely remove and dispose of the battery, follow these procedures:

• If possible, discharge the battery to less than 25 percent before removal. Discharging the battery helps prevent thermal runaway.
• Remove any items containing precious metals or watches, as these could cause electric shock.
• Do not puncture, strike, or crush the lithium-ion polymer battery or any device equipped with a lithium-ion polymer battery to avoid thermal runaway or the release of toxic gases.
• Do not throw, drop, or bend the battery.
• Do not expose the battery to excessive heat or direct sunlight.
• Use only non-conductive, non-pointed tools.
• Do not place foreign objects or sharp objects in the workspace.
• Dispose of batteries in accordance with local environmental laws and guidelines.

Workspace Safety Guidelines

• Wear heat-resistant gloves and safety goggles.
• Place a sand container on the workbench, not on top of it, within 0.6 meters (2 feet) of the left or right edge, where it is easily accessible. Use a metal container with a wide opening, a lid that can be pushed open, or a tray, and fill it with 8 to 10 cups (1.9 to 2.4 liters) of clean, dry, untreated sand.
• Keep batteries and any other flammable materials at least 0.6 meters (2 feet) away from the workspace.
• Work in a well-ventilated area.

Handling Thermal Runaway Events

If any of the following situations occur, a thermal runaway event may be happening, and you should take immediate action:

• Smoke, sparks, or soot are emanating from the lithium-ion polymer battery or a device equipped with a lithium-ion polymer battery.
• The pouch of the battery (outer casing) has suddenly and rapidly expanded.
• A hissing or popping sound is heard.

What NOT to do: Do not use water or a Class ABC/CO2 fire extinguisher on a thermal runaway battery or a device containing such a battery. Water or a Class ABC/CO2 fire extinguisher will not stop the symptoms of thermal runaway.

What TO do: Immediately cover the battery or device with sand. Pour all the sand at once onto the battery or device. The speed of action is critical. The sooner the battery is covered with sand, the sooner the thermal runaway will stop. Allow the device to cool down for 30 minutes if there is an odor of irritants.

After waiting 30 minutes, you can approach the battery. Wear heat-resistant gloves and safety goggles to remove the battery from the sand, or use a non-contact thermometer to measure the battery's temperature. Do not touch the battery until you are sure it is safe to do so.

Dispose of any damaged battery or device (including any fragments remaining in the sand) in accordance with local environmental laws and guidelines.

Caution: Be aware of chemical inhalation.

Caution: Be aware of broken glass.

Caution: Be aware of rechargeable batteries.

Disassembly Steps

Recommended Tools

• Pry tool
• Plastic pry tool
• Pry tool with screwdriver handle

Procedures

1. Remove the USB-C charging cable and power adapter.
2. With the screen facing up, insert the pry tool with a screwdriver handle into the bottom edge of the display and gently pry it open, moving downwards to separate the iPad.
3. Remove the display by hand.
4. Using the plastic pry tool, remove the lithium-ion battery from the enclosure.
5. Using the pry tool, remove the main logic board.

Note: All components disassembled using these procedures must be managed, handled, and disposed of in accordance with applicable waste regulations. This includes, but is not limited to, the EU Waste Framework Directive and national legislation in your country.

Product Components and Their Locations

Display (See step 3)

Battery (See step 4)

Logic board (See step 5)

Volume buttons

Camera connector cowling

Top button/Touch ID sensor

Camera connector cowling

Speaker

Camera

Speaker

Enclosure

Front camera

Multi-Touch connector cowling

Display connector cowling

USB-C connector cowling

USB-C connector

Other Resources

Apple Trade In and Recycling

For information on Apple's trade-in and recycling options, please visit here.

Other Resources

For information on iPad disposal and recycling, please visit here.