EARTHblog » Recycle My Cellphone
OMG iPhone 5!
By Hilary Lewis
October 17, 2012
Wow. The iPhone 5 is the greatest phone in the history of the world - 50 million people agree!
As it turns out, there were many phones before the iPhone 5, and let’s face it, they’re all old news now.
But what to do with my old phone!?
Read more
Tagged with: recycle my cell phone, recycling, iphone
Major Companies Shifting Focus to Benefit from E-Waste
By EARTHWORKS
August 10, 2012
The electronics market is experiencing rapid growth and consumers are replacing their electronics very frequently. According to the EPA, in 2009, “2.37 million tons of electronics were ready for end-of-life management.” It is important that all these electronics are properly recycled because they contain precious metals that could potentially be used to produce new electronics.
From an economic perspective, companies always seek to maximize their profits. As demand for precious minerals increases and mineral prices begin to seem unbearable, companies are looking for alternatives.
According to an article in Business Wire, “Major international corporations such as Waste Management (NYSE: WM), Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S), Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) and more are investing heavily in e-waste recycling as mineral prices soar worldwide.”
Read more
Tagged with: recycle my cell phone, recycling, e-waste
Electronic Waste Recycling: When a Responsible Decision Results in Irresponsible Consequences
By EARTHWORKS
June 12, 2012
With all the innovation in the market today, consumers are constantly upgrading their electronic devices. Many consumers are making the responsible decision to recycle their unwanted electronic items. When managed properly, parts of their old electronics could be reused and potentially enter the supply chain again, thus decreasing the need to mine precious metals.
Read more
Tagged with: recycling, cell phone, china, e-waste
Apple’s Supply Chain: Sacrificing Fair Labor Practices to Build Your Fancy iPhone
By EARTHWORKS
February 24, 2012
Apple is known for creating state-of-the-art electronic products that become the most wanted items of the day. Products such as the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and MacBook have revolutionized the electronics industry and made Apple one of the most successful companies in the world.
However, recent incidents have exposed the unfair labor practices at Foxconn and Wintek, Apple’s suppliers in China. The mental and physical health of workers at their facilities are overlooked as they are constantly under great pressure and overworked. Many workers live in crowded dorms and work longer hours than what Apple has suggested – Apple claims there is a maximum 60-hour workweek except in unusual circumstances.
Read more
Tagged with: recycling, cell phone, iphone, apple, e-waste
Banned by Apple: new iPhone app exposing the dark side of electronics
By Nick Magel
September 19, 2011
Photo: "Phone Story"
Last week Italian developer Molleindustria released a new iPhone app called “Phone Story”.
Why was this app different than the other 425,000 apps?
This app was a satirical game that allowed you to play through the entire supply chain of an iPhone.
Why did Apple ban this app?
Likely because it exposes the nastiest parts of what it takes to make our electronics.
The game starts in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Here you are in charge of mining for coltan, a critical element in smart phones. The kicker is, that many coltan mines in the eastern DRC have horrific histories of child labor, military and rebel violence, human rights abuses, and disastrous environmental impacts.
The game’s point is to highlight all the above, and judging by Apple’s reaction it highlighted it well. Within hours of the game’s release Apple had banned the app and removed it from its store.
Read more
Tagged with: dirty gold, conflict minerals, congo, drc, iphone, apple, electronics, coltan
Electronic Waste Recycling in New York: More Convenient and Accessible
By EARTHWORKS
April 11, 2011
As people seek sustainable alternatives to leaving their unwanted electronic products on their shelves or in the trash, the popularity of electronic waste recycling is building. It is important to prevent electronic waste from entering landfills because it contains metals such as lead and mercury that could potentially damage water and soil quality and impose harmful effects on human health.
However, some consumers are experiencing difficulties finding a convenient venue to recycle their e-waste. Although many small recycling programs exist, the US doesn't have a comprehensive, easy way for people to recycle e-waste, especially large items such as televisions and computers that are expensive to ship.
Read more
Tagged with: new york, e-waste
Follow Earthworks