The company's take-back and recycling programs not only divert waste from landfills and keep e-waste from harming people and the environment, they also save the company money. Recycling plastic and glass means Apple doesn't have to buy new materials. Apple is also saving on future mining efforts by reusing recovered gold and other metals in its products. For example, each iPhone contains about 25 milligrams of gold worth about $1, according to Forbes.