Apple Helps Schools Recycle Old Computers
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY 
on 05.23.07
Are some of the computers in your school from a time when both they and Steve Jobs looked like this? Well, how about recycling them through Apple's new program running until July 31 where they’ll actually come pick them up for recycling at your accredited school or university. Nope, it doesn’t matter what brand they are just so long as you register for pick-up by June 30. Then all you have to do is shrink wrap ‘em on your own pallets and wait for the truck to come take them away… You’ll also have to make sure there are at least 25 computers for them to pick up, otherwise you’re on your own with them! They’re willing to accept monitors and peripherals unless they suspect that they’ve been contaminated by substances that weren't in the original equipment or aren't associated with normal household or office usage. The company also points out they will not pick up hazardous waste, separate batteries, UPS systems, or CRTs that have been removed, cracked, or broken. They will, however, remove all identifying information and grind your old hard drives into itty bitty pieces so small you’ll never know what they were, even back in 1984. So dig in those back offices and see if you’ve got some classic computers to get rid of this spring. It’s a great way to make a difference!
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Isn't Apple one of the most ungreen tech companies there is? I think they just joined the bandwagon only because other companies like Dell have been pushing green forward for a long time, and they felt that they had to be in on the action too. Now I bet all the Apple fanboys are going to go wild with this, and claim that Apple was the innovator with this idea, while companies like Dell were just nothing.
While I am glad that they are finally doing something to be green, I think this comes really from Apple's PR, than something in their hearts. It's all just to get consumers.
"Apple fanboys" Classic! :^)
Dell's also going Ubuntu, so the life of a Dell can conceivably be 5 years or more now. I have a Dell with Ubuntu that's over 3 years old and will likely last 3 more. I've heard that Macs last that long, too, but not like a Linux box, even with a relatively resource-intensive distro like Ubuntu.
Greenpeace maintains their guide to greener electronics (http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/
electronics/how-the-companies-line-up) which in the last edition (Apr 3rd '07) Apple was ranked at the bottom. Recently however, Apple posted "A Greener Apple" image on their home page which is still there now and Steve Jobs release an official press release (http://www.apple.com/hotnews/agreenerapple/) shedding some light on what Apple is going to do to clean things up.
From what I gathered in the press release it sounds like they have been taking steps to be greener all along they just weren't as public about it as other companies. And, in some cases it sounds like they've been ahead of the pack all along. They've also pledged to phase out PVC's and BFR's by the end of 2008.
To me this is a major announcement and I feel that Apple and many other companies are taking steps towards a greener and healthier future. Good stuff!
Dell green? Ha.
It's just greenwashing.
It's just greenwashing.
Your irrational hatred of Apple is showing again.
Dell might not be green, but what computer company really is? Nonetheless, an OS that can make a computer last 5-10 years might be:-) And Dell is selling such boxes soon:
http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/05/21/15563.aspx
quikboy: "Isn't Apple one of the most ungreen tech companies there is? I think they just joined the bandwagon only because other companies like Dell have been pushing green forward for a long time, and they felt that they had to be in on the action too. ... I think this comes really from Apple's PR, than something in their hearts. It's all just to get consumers."
Speaking of PR, have you been getting your facts from the Greenpeace PR machine? As others, and Apple itself, have pointed out, Greenpeace's ranking of Apple as ungreen comes almost exclusively from their previously undisclosed "roadmap" to remove toxins from their products -- compared to Dell, HP, et al, which have published such roadmaps (or in HP's case, voiced plans to do so).
In fact, in terms of actual progress in removing toxins, Apple is consistently ahead of its competitors, sometimes years ahead -- they just haven't been vocal about it.
All just out to get consumers? Fair enough, every company wants more business. But check Apple's record: they've drastically reduced packaging on software (and iPods), their stores take iPods for recycling, and they're ahead of the curve in toxic-chemicals removal.
All of which have been consistently ignored by Greenpeace as they continued their shrill PR pronouncements against the company. So, if Apple is one of the "most ungreen tech companies," where's the evidence?
Who is that guy in the suit?
Seriously, though, this is excellent news. I can't tell you how many times I have been given the chance to buy a recycling kit with a new computer purchase. I would think that all PC makers would be happy to recycle for me. This is a good trend.
my problem with apple is that their products are disposable. when your ipod battery dies can it easily be replaced? if the screen in your imac/emac dies what then? toss it and buy another? Apple's attitude towards computers is that of any other appliance in your household. the only difference is that your toaster will probably out live your imac.
It is always good when manufacturers and retailers provide recycling schemes for their products. However, I think a lot more can and should be done to make these schemes more accessible to all of their customers.
the guy in the suit is a very young Steve Jobs, say around the late '70s-80s
Dell is not green. Plus, they make junk. Plain old junk. You spend $500 on a computer, take it home and it crashes. I have Macs dating back to when they first came out, and they're still kickin' butt. Oh yeah, and never in my life have I ever heard Dell support being green. Never.