Do you have a drawer stuffed with old phones and tablets collecting dust? Thinking about upgrading to the newest iPhone and uncertain about what to do with your obsolete device? Here’s an uplifting solution: transform your old technology into a tree.
This April, AT&T is teaming up with insurance provider Assurant and the Arbor Day Foundation to aid in forest restoration projects in California, particularly in regions impacted by recent wildfires. For each device traded in through AT&T’s online or brick-and-mortar trade-in program throughout the month, a tree will be planted at the Placerville Nursery — California’s sole forest service nursery focused on wildfire reforestation. The goal: to plant 75,000 trees by the end of the month.
“AT&T has been connecting people in California for 145 years, and we are dedicated to aiding our communities as we rebuild together,” stated Roman Smith, AT&T’s Director of Global Environmental Sustainability. “That’s why this year’s Tree for Trade-In initiative with the Arbor Day Foundation and Assurant holds special significance.”
This program enhances AT&T’s broad disaster recovery efforts following the wildfire crisis in Southern California. The corporation has collaborated with first responders and local groups to provide vital services, such as public Wi-Fi, charging stations, and its Mobile Connectivity Center (MCC), which delivered complimentary internet access, device charging, and computer use to residents in severely affected locations like Malibu. AT&T additionally granted billing credits to impacted customers and contributed $2 million to wildfire support initiatives.
As climate change progresses, severe weather phenomena like wildfires are increasing both in frequency and intensity. Just a slight rise in global temperatures has already led to longer and more severe fire seasons, driven by drought conditions and higher temperatures.
Concurrently, the world is grappling with an escalating e-waste dilemma. Each year, millions of electronic devices are either traded in or thrown away, positioning e-waste as the fastest-growing solid waste category globally. Recycling programs frequently fall short, and the rare metals utilized in batteries and electronics are limited. In response, sustainability proponents and tech companies are embracing the idea of a circular economy — one where materials are reused and repurposed instead of discarded.
“Assurant is honored to have collaborated with AT&T for nearly 15 years to bolster their sustainability objectives through circularity,” remarked Biju Nair, Executive Vice President and President of Assurant Global Connected Living. “Together, we’ve made a tangible difference in diminishing carbon emissions and electronic waste.”
This isn’t AT&T’s initial effort to connect device trade-ins with environmental renewal. In 2024, the company initiated a comparable program resulting in over 50,000 trees being planted in forests throughout Oregon and Florida.
“This Earth Month,” stated Charlene Lake, AT&T’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, “our Tree for Trade-In initiative with the Arbor Day Foundation and Assurant represents the strength of collective action. Every device returned contributes to planting a tree, fostering renewal in communities affected by California’s wildfires.”
Therefore, if you’re ready to let go of your old phone or tablet, think about trading it in — and assist in cultivating a greener future along the way.