After upgrading to the Apple Watch Series 2, people now have another option for what to do with their old smartwatches.
This week, Apple added the Apple Watch to the Apple Renew program, which aims to get people to send their old devices to be recycled properly free of charge. But Apple is not offering store credit or a gift card in exchange for sending in an old Watch.
Typically, customers who trade in iPhones, iPads, and Macs via Apple Renew receive a credit for the Apple Store. For example, recycling an iPhone 6s Plus with 128GB can get you a $300 gift card, and sending in a working MacBook is valued at about $450 in Apple Store credit. It seems that the Apple Watch trade-ins, like the iPod, don’t receive anything in return—well, except for the peace of mind that you’re helping out the environment.
Apple uses a third party, Sims Recycling Solutions, to manage the new Apple Watch recycling program. Sims has “a zero-landfill policy and proven sustainability,” and it’s linked directly from the Apple Renew website.
The impact on you: Of course, there are more lucrative ways to get rid of your old Apple Watch if it’s still working. Most iPhone trade-in sites like Nextworth, Maxback, and Stopoint will accept an Apple Watch and help you resell it. The trade-in value of a 38mm Apple Watch with Milanese Loop currently ranges from $60 on Nextworth to $158 on Stopoint.
