Apple: Recycle Your iPod, Save 10%

Answering calls from environmental groups about improper disposal of used and/or broken iPods, Apple announced on Friday a program where it will offer a 10 percent discount for those who decide to by a new iPod the same day they hand in their old one. The program will be run out of Apple's 100 retail stores within the US.

Several groups in recent months have called on the company to take action on what they see as a growing problem of industrial waste from unwanted electronic devices. To ease environmental concerns, Apple says that it will process all the waste domestically and not ship it overseas.

In January 2005, the Computer TakeBack Campaign, an environmental coalition, announced its intention to mount a campaign against Apple for what it called "lackluster recycling efforts." Protesters and activists attending Macworld handed out leaflets reading, "from iPod to iWaste."

Unwanted hardware is known as e-waste. E-waste is commonly disposed of in landfills and poses significant environmental risks as toxic components degrade, releasing toxins such as lead, oxides, arsenic, mercury, and over 30 other toxins into the environment. Decades have passed were this trend has gone largely unnoticed as technology take-up continued to steadily increase.

More information about Apple's environmental policies can be found at its Web site.