Apple starts to offer "free responsible recycling" for all tech

by Mark Tyson on 22 April 2014, 11:15

Tags: Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

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Today is Earth Day and Apple has refreshed its environment microsite, detailing several measures it is taking to become a greener company. The headline addition to Apple's recycling program will be the acceptance of old tech equipment which is not worth refurbishing and reselling. In some world regions, including the UK, Apple stores will even be accepting third party PCs and smart devices. In another environmental move Apple says that it will also be implementing a scheme to power all its stores, offices and data centres with renewable energy.

Narrated by Tim Cook

Apple started offering gift cards in exchange for old and unwanted iTech that could be reconditioned and re-sold last year. Now Apple Stores are going to extend the programme to include all Apple products. However those products judged to be of little or no resale value will be responsibly recycled – with no gift card in exchange. This will help reduce the environmental waste impact of the large amount of Apple tech waste – the company has sold "more than 1 billion iPhones, iPods, iPads and Mac computers," in the past seven years, reports ABC News. In some countries Apple will also take old tech products to recycle regardless of the manufacturer.

Looking at the products it sells currently Apple says that they are designed both for durability and for minimising energy wastage with thought for the environment. Examples given include:

  • Today's Mac Pro uses 74 percent less aluminium and steel than the previous design.
  • The newest iMac is made with 68 percent less material than the first iMac.
  • Today's iMac uses 0.9 watt of electricity in sleep mode which is 97 percent less than the first iMac.

Apple is also, as mentioned in the intro, seeking to become a 100 per cent renewable energy powered company. ABC reports that already Apple's data centres in North Carolina, Oregon, Nevada and California all run entirely upon renewable energy – so that iTunes users "can feel comfortable that they are not adding any carbon pollution to the atmosphere". Apple has also made great progress in powering its offices around the world and about 94 per cent of office power requirements are catered for by renewable. That's up from 35 per cent in 2010. Looking down the chain to retail, around half of its US stores run entirely on renewable energy.

HEXUS Forums :: 16 Comments

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Posted by Saracen - Tue 22 Apr 2014 11:21
So, if it's re-sellable, we give it to Apple and they give us a ‘gift card’? If it's not, we just give it to Apple? Why does my bullpoop-ometer wonder if the inherent value of components might make this a cynical move? Or is it just for the PR green points?

Personally, I'd rather sell old gear myself, or give it away, Freecycle, maybe. And old PCs go to a charity that ships them to third-world schools.

So, thanks for the offer, Apple, but ….. nah, don't think so.
Posted by jim - Tue 22 Apr 2014 11:24
If they genuinely take everything though, that could be quite helpful. If you've got some bulky computer equipment that's broken, it might be a lot easier to lug it down to the local Apple store than the nearest council tip, especially if you don't have a car.

If it stops a few people lobbing junk into woodland/parks/rivers then it's been worthwhile, even if it's a bit of a PR stunt for such worthless gear.
Posted by AETAaAS - Tue 22 Apr 2014 11:28
jim
If they genuinely take everything though, that could be quite helpful. If you've got some bulky computer equipment that's broken, it might be a lot easier to lug it down to the local Apple store than the nearest council tip, especially if you don't have a car.

If it stops a few people lobbing junk into woodland/parks/rivers then it's been worthwhile, even if it's a bit of a PR stunt for such worthless gear.

Currys have been doing something similar for a while now. Take any electronics in and they will recycle it for you, no questions asked, no purchase necessary.
Posted by kompukare - Tue 22 Apr 2014 12:01
Isn't it a typical response from the makers of consumer junk?

The waste triangle should be reduce, reuse, recycle.
But the manufacturers of consumer goods are totally opposed to reduce, don't like reuse and their main reason for advocating recycle is that they are afraid of eventually running out of raw material to sell us more consumer junk.

Also, a lot of the cost of recycling has been socialised so rather than the manufacturer paying, we all do.

The number one priority should be to consume less, followed by major reuse and repair. But Apple are one of the worst companies for reuse and repair as everything they do is proprietary and hostile to repairs: soldered batteries, glued together cases and so on. Stupid trends which get copied by other manufacturers.

But then us consumers seem to value bling over substance. Rather than pushing for standard designs, like desktop PCs were (by accident not because consumer electronic companies liked that), with interchangeable parts which can be repaired and replaced the trend is for things which are more and more disposable junk.
Posted by HMS_Victory - Tue 22 Apr 2014 12:11
Aren't the size and power reduction just whats happening in the electronic/computing industry rather than Apple doing anything special, but i suppose they've never been scared of claiming other companies work as their own ideas.

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