Apple Expands Recycling Efforts

In what looks to be a tie in to tomorrow’s Earth Day, Apple today announced they were expanding a computer recycling program in which they will offer free computer take-back and recycling with the purchase of a new Mac beginning in June. Also announced was that their newest iPods are now RoHS compliant in California and Europe.

The expanded recycling program, said Apple, will let consumers who buy a new Mac through the Apple Store online or Apple’s retail stores will receive free shipping and disposal of their old computer. Equipment recycled through this program is done so domestically, with no hazardous materials being shipped overseas. The extension of this program stems from a 2001 start which has seen a reported 90 percent of electronic equipment collected recycled.

As for the iPods, Apple said their fifth generation, nano and shuffle models are now fully compliant with the upcoming restrictions of hazardous substances (RoHS) in California and Europe, which are reportedly becoming global standards for environmental regulation.

“Apple is committed to supporting our customers and protecting the environment throughout the entire product life cycle, from purchase through to retirement,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in a statement. “Now we are making it even easier for Apple’s customers to safely and affordably recycle their used computers and iPods.”