Recycle Apples!

I am a part of the Apple Students group on Facebook and on November 20th, Apple posted a note about recycling iPods. The post said " Did you know you can bring your old iPod to an Apple Retail Store and we'll safely recycle it for free? We'll even give you 10% off your next iPod."There is also a link to get more information at http://www.apple.com/recycling/ipod-cell-phone/

The website says "The Apple Recycling Program offers free and environmentally friendly disposal of your iPod and any manufacturer’s mobile phone." I thought it was interesting that Apple is helping out with e-waste by taking back any mobile phone, not just Apple products.

The site also has a place to search for retail stores close to the consumer so they can bring in the product for recycling.

If there is not a retail store near the consumer there is also a form to fill out online for the consumer to recycle via mail.



On the right hand side of the page, there is a side bar that has "Other Free North American Recycling Programs," "International Recycling Programs," and "Recycling in Cupertino" which is where the Apple headquarters is located.

At the very bottom of the webpage it says, "Apple and the Environment. Bigger picture. Better products. Smaller impact." Then there is a link to get the full story on Apple's environmental impact.

I thought all together this is a good program and gives apple a good image, especially because they take back other manufacturer's phones. The incentive to recycle iPods is a good one because the consumer gets 10% off their next iPod purchase as long as it isn't a shuffle. This is a win-win for Apple and the consumer because Apple gets a repeat customer and the consumer gets a break on their next purchase.