Environmental activists urge iPod to go green

The environmental crusaders at The Green Guide have started a campaign (and a Web site) encouraging Apple to clean up its iPod act. In an open letter to company CEO Steve Jobs the activists claim that Apple lags behind companies such as Dell and HP in offering programs to take back broken or obsolete products from consumers -- especially in regards to the iPod. With already 10 million iPods in circulation, the group says within 1-3 years landfills will begin filling up with discarded iPod batteries that contain toxins like lead and mercury. In order for Apple to live up to its self-proclaimed commitments to the environment, The Green Guide says the company should: offer direct, affordable take back policies for the iPod and other electronics; design iPods so that batteries can be easily and affordably replaced with rechargeables; and support legislation that requires responsible manufacturing and recycling. A copy of the letter to Jobs, as well as an applicable phone number, are accessible from the FixItApple.com site.

Filed under: iPod, industry