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E-Wastes and Recycling:
There is no doubting the fact that
computer / electronic industry generate great amount of electronic
wastes (e-wastes). Since the explosion in the industry in the early
1980s, the products have changed almost every year with consumers
junking their previous year's product for the newer versions. Besides
the changes in versions, the life spans of most electronic products from
this industry are very short. The disposal of the e-wastes thus became a
huge burden for the companies in the computer industry. Many computer /
electronic firms (Apple inclusive) have been accused of shipping their
wastes to African and Asian countries to dump them, a practice that is
considered unethical and dangerous.
Environmental organizations have been
demanding sound recycling and product take-back programs from the
electronic/computer industries to stop the overseas illegal disposals.
Apple, environmental organization and Toxic Materials/E-wastes Recycling
Between 2003 and 2007,
Greenpeace International and other
environmental organizations had several campaigns that accused Apple of
not doing enough to phase out the use of the toxic materials discussed
above from their products (see
Greenpeace | iToxic +
iWastes). Apple was accused of:
1. Not doing enough to
reduce or completely stop the use of toxic chemicals in their products.
Greenpeace stated that other Apple competitors have either stopped the
use of the chemicals or are committed to some timelines to stop the use
of the chemicals
2. A sound recycling
program that will prevent Apple from disposing off their e-wastes in
Asia.
Steve Jobs' Apple
rejected these claims by the Greenpeace. He once said the environmental
organizations were after Apple's popularity. He believed that Apple was
far ahead of other companies such as Dell, Lenovo, Hewlett Packard and
other players in the industry, as far as meeting greening the
environment is concerned. He said the only issue with Apple has been
that they have not been reporting more on their advances in greening the
environment.
However, since
mid-2007, Steve Jobs shifted positions and started an aggressive move
towards greening Apple.
Apple
announced it would take back iPods for free at its retail stores. He
later expanded Apple's recycling programs to any U.S. and global
customer who buys a new Mac. This program includes shipping and
"environmentally friendly disposal" of their old systems.
Apple now recycles
computers, mobile phones and displays regardless of manufacturer. You
can now take your olf iPOD to an Apple Retail Store for them to dispose
(recycle) for you; you will receive a 10 percent discount on a newer
model. Old Mac batteries will also be recycled for free. In 2008, 33
million pounds of electronic waste was recycled by the company. Over 83
million pounds of equipment have been diverted from landfills since
1994. Apple's processes and products have also been optimized to be more
energy efficient. There have been tremendous reduction in the packaging
of the products.
Apple also started an
aggressive removal of toxic substances from its products.
Apple's iPad now has
arsenic-free display glass, mercury-free LCD display and it is free of
brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
These moves
have singled Steve Jobs out as a leader in business and in the care for
the environment. This has won him several commendations from the
Environment industry.In a blog written by
Tom Dowdall
on Greenpeace website titled
Steve Jobs – a worthy opponent, a valuable ally, he stated and we
quote:
"During our campaigning for a greener electronics industry, Apple and
Steve Jobs have been central
figures. I never met him, but I think it’s safe to say he was never
a Greenpeace fan. Despite this, he did make a
rare promise to be the first computer company to phase out the
worst hazardous substances from all Apple products. In 2008 Apple lead
the industry with the first computers virtually free of PVC
and BFRs. He clearly understood the value to Apple of being the
first. Today, all Apple products are free of these hazardous substances
and where Apple lead, HP, Acer and others have followed. That alone made
Steve Jobs ultimately a valuable ally in the fight for a toxics free
future"
Steve Jobs truly knew what it means to be
first in all things, including greening the environment. Adieu Steve
Paul Jobs. |
