Apparently Apple Inc. has some of the most outdated environmental policies around which means that their computers are responsible for a lot of toxic e-waste. Specifically, their computers are manufactured with toxic chemicals that seep out into the environment as they sit in landfills and they do not currently offer a recycling program* to help reduce the e-waste their devices produce.
Greenpeace has launched a campaign to encourage Apple to stop using toxic chemicals in their computers and to start a product take-back plan like other computer manufacturers such as Dell and HP. To support the campaign, you can check out the cleverly designed web site and if interested sign a petition.
*correction: they do offer a recycling program, however, this should read “adequate recycling program” as the program is very limited and only offered in the US.
Apple offers a free recycling program for its old computers when you buy a new one. Not as comprehensive as one might like, but it’s a start.
Thanks for the link Alan. I agree that it is a start, but I’d really like to see them do a lot more. The program is currently offered only in the US and does not apply to purchases made by resellers and institutions, so it would be nice to see the program extended to Canada and the rest of the world and also to include purchases not bought in the Apple Store.