For some time now, environmental activists have targeted Apple to change its practices. Last year, it actually happened. I was literally most of the way through a draft of an Earth Day story about Apple's unwillingness to start a computer takeback and recycling program when Apple announced that...they were launching a computer takeback and recycling program. But the pressure continues -- and was pumped up today.
Technorati Tags: al gore, apple, environment
Of late, much of the activists' attention has been on Al Gore, Apple board-member and self-appointed global warming change agent. We're creeping up on Apple's annual meeting and Earth Day, and the heat is on again, this time from what is reputed to be a coalition of "over 70 environmental, and consumer groups and other activists."
The joint statement was put out today by the Computer TakeBack Campaign, whom I spoke with last year. Interestingly, the groups now claim that Gore agreed to lobby on their behalf last April but reneged on the deal at subsequent meetings. They're looking for three things: One is for Apple to be the best computer company in terms of take-back and recycling, another is for Apple to phase out toxic materials. These are both rather vague goals with major road blocks.
On the other hand, the group's other demand is extremely rational and represents Apple's most troubling side: They simply want Apple to stop actively opposing legislation that supports producer-supported e-waste recycling. HP and Dell do support such laws, but Apple consistently works against them. Astoundingly, they've kept it up, even as recently as last Friday in Connecticut.
I really have no idea what to make of Apple's stance here -- I can't think of a single reason that they'd work that hard to block these laws when they're already on the hook in Washington state and elsewhere.
