Donated locked Apple devices: Can they be returned to Apple for donation?

If they were not properly prepared for giving away per these Apple articles:

Computers: What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

iPads: Sell, give away, or trade in your iPad - Apple Support

Phones: Sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone - Apple Support

then there is zero retained value for trade-in and, because personal information may still be on the devices, they cannot be sold for parts without risking the prior owners' accounts. Even Apple cannot unlock them. Whoever donated them in that condition did you no favors.

WinnieYNC wrote:

Since I am working in a Charity Store, there are some donated Apple devices without clearing personal information or locked. Is it possible we can do something more eco-friendly and getting back donated fund to help the society? Please advice.

Sure, Apple offers a free recycling service to dispose of unwanted devices in an eco-friendly manner. Of course, you wouldn't be paid for it- otherwise there would be many "donated" devices from thieves, scammers, and fraudsters.

The phones cannot be repurposed to be used again when locked to the original owner. The only eco-friendly option is to recycle them, but that does not involve any payment.