RSSApple Enhances Recycling Program
By Ed Oswald | Published April 21, 2006, 12:34 PM
On the eve of Earth Day, Apple said on Friday it will expand its computer recycling program for new Macintosh owners beginning in June. Customers in the U.S. who buy online or through Apple's stores would be eligible for free shipping and disposal of their old system.
Apple said it had been named a "Forward Green Leader" -- a title given to the top ten environmentally progressive companies by the Sierra Club. The computer maker has been operating the recycling program since 2001, and has recycled nearly 90 percent of the electronic equipment it has collected.
Environmental activists have criticized the Cupertino company in the past, saying the rampant popularity of the iPod is creating more electronic waste. Apple has been accused of not doing enough about it, a charge the company has vehemently denied.
"Apple is committed to supporting our customers and protecting the environment throughout the entire product life cycle, from purchase through to retirement," Apple senior marketing vice president Philip Schiller said.
Apple also took time Friday to announce that its entire line of iPods are now compliant with the new restrictions of hazardous substances set to take effect in California and Europe. Called the RoHS, the regulation is considered a standard for environmental safety.
According to Apple, most of the materials included in the law, including mercury, cadmium, chromium VI and brominated flame retardants, had been eliminated voluntarily from the company's products years ago.
Additionally, the iPod's power adapter now also meets Energy Star efficiency requirements, as well as the stricter laws of California regarding efficiency.
More on Apple's Earth-friendly policies can be found at the company's environment Web site.
If every computer store would take old systems back and take care of disposal and recycling, it would really help clean out our storeroom! (I work for a k-12 school district).
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|Just in time for next week's shareholder meeting. ;-)
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|I'm really worried about the impact of old ipods on the enviroment! I mean their going to destroy the ozone and pollute the oceans. Nevermind the hundreds of tons of pollution going into the air from cars and industry, those ipods are going to do the most damage!!!
*sarcasm*
The world would be a lot cleaner without enviromental activists.
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|I play my iPod every day just to spite the Ozone. I let my pet monkey listen to it (at high volumes) as well in hopes that he gets brain damage. (You have to use him for the testing of the volume as to not hurt my own ears).
Good thing there's people in the world that complain alot (like activists). The world would actually make sense without them. It'd be horrible.
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|I'm sorry, what does any of this have to do with activism? And why does this make the world make less sense? You sound like a sick masochistic fool. Every consumer product does affect our air, water, and soil. When we do things the right way, like Apple is claiming it will do, we improve the health and and quality for everyone. This article is purporting to be good news, yet you mock and deride it? Why? What here makes you so insecure?
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|If you wanna get all serious about it...
"Environmental ACTIVISTS have criticized the Cupertino company in the past, saying the rampant popularity of the iPod is creating more electronic waste." Hippies and Apple have been around for a while, they just started the program 5 years ago. Seems like they got tired of hippies complaining. (Even though Steve Jobs was kinda a flower child himself).
"This article is purporting to be good news, yet you mock and deride it? Why?"
Who really gives a crap about how Apple recycles? Is it really great news? I could give two craps about how they do business as long as the product is a good one to be honest. I don't shop for a computer or whatever based on "Is this good for the environment?".
I've had a long time respect for Apple. I just think it's stupid that there's people out there that make a big fuss over nothing. Cars, understandable, computers and iPods, come on now.
"Every consumer product does affect our air, water, and soil." What doesn't? That's life!
If they try to "save the earth" one way, they will end up affecting it another.
All this is really if you want to throw politics and business into it. Actually, I was just having some fun with the article. I guess I should watch out for people with sticks in their a**es on the site. Man I wish I didn't have a sense of humor....
I gotta go, I don't want to be using my computer too long, don't want to hurt mother earth. Think I'll go run over a small animal somewhere....
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|Since when is recycleing s*** good for the environment anyway, some of the chemicals and processes they use to seperate the materials is way more toxic than the original production of the products.. just because we are re-using materials doesnt mean we are saving or protecting the environment!!! its all about cash people!! bottom line
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