Posted on 04/23/2005 12:45:18 AM PDT by Swordmaker
The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) -- the same environmental group that drew the attention of Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the company's shareholder meeting yesterday -- on Friday shot back at statements Jobs made about the company's environmental policies. While the groups initial charges were broad, they narrowed the focus on many of the issues in their responses today.
Jobs countered claims that Apple did not have an effective computer takeback program by pointing out that Apple has had such a program for four years, recycling over 1,500 tons in the last year. The SVTC said in response that while that may sound like a lot, it doesn't compare to the 5,000 tons that HP collected in a six-week program.
However, the SVTC did not counter claims that it made saying that Apple charged for recycling, while HP and Dell did not. Jobs said that both companies charged for their recycling programs.
The SVTC also said Apple has been lobbying against state legislation in Minnesota and Maine requiring companies to setup take-back programs, a claim Jobs flatly denied. The group says Apple hired lobbyist Dan Riley to oppose the State e-waste legislation -- the legislation passed with the help of HP and Dell, the group says.
After making an initial claim against Apple in Minnesota, the SVTC did not address this issue in their response today.
Claims that Apple uses prison or forced labor in their recycling programs were categorically denied by Jobs, saying that Apple nor their partners use such labor forces. The SVTC, countered saying they have proof.
"Jobs has set up a straw man here," the SVTC response reads. "By not creating effective pathways for clean, responsible recycling for the vast majority of their products in the waste stream, computer producers such as Apple guarantee that a significant amount of e-waste will be handled by recyclers who use prison labor for disassembly of computers. We have contacts inside the prison system who confirm that Apple computers and other products DO end up in the prison disassembly programs."
Jobs said that Apple ships ground-up plastics overseas to make new recycled plastics, but the SVTC counters it's Apple's inaction on this issue that "assures that e-waste winds up in Asia. We know from allies overseas that Apple products do end up in China and India, sent there via disreputable 'recyclers,'" according to the response from the group.
Calling the SVTC's claim that the iPod "a time-bomb for our health," inexcusable, Jobs did say that there is a small amount of lead in the iPod, which the company is working to get rid of.
"Even small amounts of lead can be very, very harmful," said the SVTC response. "And because the iPod is so small, it is much more likely to get tossed into the trash (instead of recycled) and end up in the landfill."
The group also said that even though Apple has set up an iPod battery replacement program that consumers would not take advantage of it, instead choosing to "toss it in the trash."
Jobs said yesterday that he thought the group was using Apple's visibility to gain publicity for their own group. Quoting a report in the Kansas City Star, the leader of the environmental group said they "picked the iPod to go after because it’s the hippest thing around."
Apple representatives were not immediately available for comment.
Jobs countered claims that Apple did not have an effective computer takeback program by pointing out that Apple has had such a program for four years, recycling over 1,500 tons in the last year. The SVTC said in response that while that may sound like a lot, it doesn't compare to the 5,000 tons that HP collected in a six-week program.
Gee, it's too bad that HP PCs fail so rapidly and have to be recycled... more proof that Apple makes superior computers... ;^)
Eco-freaks attack Apple for allowing third parties not under their control to recycle Apple computer using prison industries...
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Your physics teacher might like a photogate timer. Your biology department might benefit from a system to monitor aquarium or greenhouse temperatures. If you want more Apple II computers, you can probably get them from other departments in your school, or by asking parents for donations. Think of it as computer recycling!
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I wonder sometimes whether there's any kind of statistically significant linkage between envirowhackism and suicidal tendencies. You'd think that, with all of the "sky is falling" and "we're all going to die horrible deaths" rhetoric that these people spew out, they must be really, really depressed alot of the time. I mean -- let's face facts, here -- they spend their waking hours lamenting their conviction that the planet on which we live is doomed and will, all too soon, shrivvel up like a prune and die, and they blame the human race for this.
That's just got to bring you down, after awhile.
Keen insight.
Claims that Apple uses prison or forced labor
Well, at least the claims aren't over the top. Next, they'll probably claim that Apple is making computers out of homeless people or spotted owls. :-)
Or maybe they were neglected as small children and just crave attention...
"the leader of the environmental group said they "picked the iPod to go after because it’s the hippest thing around."
" Next, they'll probably claim that Apple is making computers out of homeless people or spotted owls."
Sssshhhhh!!!! What are you doing? Haven't you heard that the spotted owls are reducing in number despite protected forests, etc. What do you think is happening to them? ;-)
I love my Mac! Oh, and my iPod, too!
Soylent Mac's?
The TRS-80 model 100 is still used a lot today in rugged applications. The little suckers just work and don't die. I used to have basically the same thing in a different package, an Olivetti M-10:
Having used Apple until then, it was the first Microsoft software on Intel I ever used.
Interesting info.
I realize that there are a lot of variables to take into account, but, off-hand, it seems that iPod-listeners would be using and discarding fewer batteries than Walkman/CD-listeners did.
These people are such idiots. I paid 300 bucks for my iPod and have spent many hours ripping CDs to copy onto it. I also purshased a service plan when I bought it - if it breaks, Apple will either fix it or replace it. Last I heard the battery replacement costs $35 if I do it myself. And they say I'm just going to throw it in the trash?
When are people like Steve Jobs going to wake up to the fact that pandering to these envirowhack and other loony left groups is useless, because at some point they'll turn on them? Any of these guys ever study Churchill (Winston, not the cigar store Indian) and what he had to say about hoping the alligator eats you last?
I bet they do.
These people just crack me up. Obviously haven't gotten the memo about this thing Algore invented called the internet, and they still think these are the days when they can drop their little turds of "wisdom" in rags like the KC Red Star and not have to worry about them coming back to stink up their nests.
I think the lead in iPods is primarily in the solder on the circuit board... probably about 5% of the amount of solder in your average Sony Walkman... if that.
anonymous_user: I bet they do.
LOL.
I'd guess that many of those Walkmen will be tossed into the trash soon.
My husband and son have been buying them at yard sales for 50 cents or a dollar these past few years.
I know how Apple can increase the trade-ins on iPods. Send your old when you order a new one and they transfer all the music over, kind of like they do now when you send it in for warranty. I think many upgraders would take advantage of that.
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