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Meet Daisy, Apple's new iPhone recycling robot

The robot can sort out precious materials other recyclers can't recover.

Shara Tibken
Shara Tibken was a managing editor at CNET News, overseeing a team covering tech policy, EU tech, mobile and the digital divide. She previously covered mobile as a senior reporter at CNET and also wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. Shara is a native Midwesterner who still prefers "pop" over "soda."
Shara Tibken
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Daisy's iPhone loader

Daisy, Apple's new recycling robot, can disassemble nine versions of the iPhone. Its predecessor, Liam, was custom designed for the iPhone 6. 

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Daisy disassembles iPhones

The new robot supercharges its predecessor's capabilities, operating more quickly and tearing down a much higher number of device models. 

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Daisy's sorting table

Daisy replaces Liam and uses some of the older machine's components. 

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4 of 8 Spencer Lowell/Apple

Daisy's sorting table

Daisy can disassemble up to 200 phones an hour. Assuming Daisy runs 24 hours a day, that would total 1.75 million iPhones a year. Liam could take apart 1.2 million iPhones a year when it launched two years ago.

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Daisy's iPhone punching tools

Daisy is located in Austin, Texas. A second machine will eventually be placed in Europe.

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Daisy's battery cooling, back view

Daisy's improved technology allows Apple to sort out materials that traditional recyclers can't recover.

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Daisy's iPhone display removal

Daisy is part of Apple's push to promote Earth Day. The company has been focused for years on making its products and its operations more environmentally friendly and has long said it aimed to run its operations entirely on renewable energy.

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RIP Liam

Daisy's predecessor, Liam (pictured here), has been retired.

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