AT&T Trade-Ins Plant 150,000 Trees in California

Trading in your old phone just became a powerful act of forest restoration in California.

For the second year running, AT&T and Assurant are turning device trade-ins into trees through their "Tree for Trade-In" program. Every phone, tablet, or device traded in during April supports planting seedlings at California's Placerville Nursery, the state's only forest service nursery.

This year's month-long campaign will add 75,000 new trees to the nursery, doubling the program's total impact to 150,000 trees. These seedlings will eventually be transplanted into areas devastated by the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, helping rebuild the critical ecosystems that communities depend on.

The partnership works because it connects everyday actions to long-term environmental wins. Customers trade in their old devices at AT&T stores or online, Assurant ensures those devices get securely processed and either repurposed or responsibly recycled, and the Arbor Day Foundation uses the support to grow trees specifically for wildfire recovery.

"Wildfire recovery efforts are a long-term commitment, and projects like this help ensure that we can hit the ground running when these landscapes are ready," said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. The Placerville Nursery serves as a critical staging ground, growing trees that will strengthen forest resilience for decades to come.

The Ripple Effect

The program creates multiple wins beyond just planting trees. Old devices get a second life or proper recycling, reducing electronic waste in landfills. Communities recovering from devastating wildfires gain support for restoration that typically takes years to fund and coordinate.

Michael Bellantis, Vice President of Sustainability at Assurant, explained that the initiative "brings sustainability to life through trusted collaboration, showing how aligned priorities across the value chain can strengthen community resilience and create lasting environmental impact." It's proof that corporate partnerships can drive meaningful environmental progress when they focus on specific, measurable outcomes.

The timing matters too. California continues facing severe wildfire seasons, and rapid reforestation helps prevent erosion, protect water quality, and restore habitat for wildlife. The 150,000 trees planted through this program represent tangible progress in rebuilding what was lost.

One phone trade-in at a time, California's forests are growing back stronger.