Source: GreenerComputing.com
Getting consumers to ‘recycle’ their old iPods or cellphones by generously handing them in for free is becoming a big business, with huge potential for major players like Apple and Nokia, as product life cycles continue to decrease.
Apple will now accept and recycle iPods and any brand of cell phone free of charge. The announcement also comes on the heels of an article in Condé Nast Portfolio naming Apple one of the country’s “Toxic Ten” corporations, partially because of it’s limited recycling program.
Apple offers free recycling of any computer, monitor and peripheral equipment, but only with the purchase of an Apple computer or monitor. The computing giant will now take back phones and iPods with no purchase required, and will also give customers a 10 percent discount on a new iPod when they recycle an old one.
However, iPods or cellphones of any re-usable quality may be resold in bulk to second hand resellers who may pass them on through outsets such as eBay. Few of these products may be tested prior to re-sale or given an form of warranty.
The second hand consumer electronics business is growing and big names are cashing in on the generosity of consumers to hand in their cast offs for free.
From June this year, US consumers will be able to trade-in their second hand consumer iPods and cellphones for cash or store credit at trade 2 save.com. All products will be tested, graded and given a warranty before being re-sold via the trade 2 save website.
At Apple (like trade 2 save), customers will mail in their pre-owned electronics, and both companies will provide pre-paid shipping labels and mailers. Apple also accepts batteries from Apple products at Apple stores for free. The company processes all recyclable items in the United States. Nokia is also expanding its recycling initiative, but is instead offering recycling in more places.
Nokia has launched a cell phone and accessories takeback program in East Africa, according to news reports. Customers can drop off items from any phone manufacturer at collection centers in Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda. The items will be shipped to and processed in Europe.
