Apple is suing its former recycling partner GEEP Canada for allegedly stealing and then reselling approximately 103,845 iPads, iPhones, and Watches that were originally supposed to be dismantled.

Apple has filed a complaint accusing the coming for reselling “at least 11,766 pounds of Apple devices left GEEP’s premises without being destroyed—a fact that GEEP itself confirmed.”

Between January 2015 and December 2017, the company had sent the recycling firm around 500,000 iPads, iPhones, and Apple Watches. After auditing, Apple discovered that 18% of those devices could access the internet via cellular networks. Apple reminds the jurisdiction that 18 % of those devices were without a cellular radio, and so, the possibility of an even higher percentage of devices being sold is there.

Apple has demanded at least 31M Canadian dollars as a means to reach a settlement. The recycling firm, on the other hand, has denied all the accusations or the fact that any thievery was done. The company has, in fact, filed a third-party suit claiming that three employees have stolen the devices and that the company holds no responsibility for it. Apple argues that these employees were part of the senior management.

Last year, the e-waste record added up to 53.6 million metric tons of discarded technological devices. Apple is amongst the few companies that have been trying to reduce the damage by improving and incorporating healthy environmental practices. To ensure this, the company recycles in-house components with help from robots Dave and Daisy.

For this purpose, the company relies on other partners as they help them recover valuable material from used devices. And for this noble reason, the company had partnered up with GEEP Canada.

Of course, reselling devices after refurbishing them is also a part of Geep’s business – the company clearly mentions on its website that it aims to “encourage reuse whenever possible”.

Apple believes that even if the devices were available for reuse, it’s not okay to sell them on the grey market without ensuring safety standards.

The company said: “Products sent for recycling are no longer adequate to sell to consumers and if they are rebuilt with counterfeit parts they could cause serious safety issues, including electrical or battery defects.”

Apple cut off all ties with the company and filed for the lawsuit in January 2020.