Third-party charging solutions are nothing new when it comes to Apple's mobile hardware, as companies have been offering their own cables and wall chargers as cheaper alternatives to Apple's own gear for nearly as long as there have been iPods. Those third-party chargers have been thrust into the spotlight lately, though, thanks to incidents like this one in which a Chinese woman may have been killed by a knockoff charging unit.

Today Apple responded to these incidents by announcing the USB Power Adapter Takeback Program. First spotted by 9to5Mac, the service allows consumers that may be concerned about the safety of their device's USB charger to go to any Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider and drop the unit off there. Apple says that it will dispose of the chargers in an environmentally-friendly manner.

Once a person drops off a charger as part of the Takeback Program, he or she will be able to purchase an Apple-made USB power adapter for $10, a discount from the unit's normal $19 price tag. Consumers will need to bring both a power adapter and an iPhone, iPod or iPad in order to qualify for the lower price. The USB Power Adapter Takeback Program kicks off on Aug. 16 and will run through Oct. 18.

Many consumers use third-party power adapters on a regular basis and never have any issue with them. However, the allure of a super-cheap charger could lead to some consumers using poorly-made adapters that may eventually result in harm to either their expensive electronic device or even themselves. Considering the recent news surrounding third-party adapters and their safety, It's nice to see Apple giving  users that are concerned about their chargers the opportunity to dispose of the unsafe charger and buy an Apple-made unit at a discounted rate.

If you've got an adapter that you'd like to trade in, you can hit up the Apple link below to locate your nearest Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Via 9to5Mac, Apple