Yes, it’s a big problem. The fact that there’s any infrastructure at all in place for recycling is still better than previously doing none at all. If more companies chose recycled/post-consumer materials, the junk wouldn’t build up in facilities storage so long, but laissez-faire capitalism only does that which is of self interest. Taking less profit is never an option they’ll choose, especially not Wall Street traded companies, and even more so if they can charge customers more to slap on labeling that claims environmental protection practices.I'd like to know what Apple really does with the stuff they recycle. I recall an article I read last year about this non-profit had put GPS trackers inside old devices and recycled them with a "reputable" recycler. Most electronics recycling just got sent overseas and sat in a warehouse leaching chemicals into the air/ground.
Where does America's e-waste end up? GPS tracker tells all
Despite pledges to responsibly recycle old TVs and other unwanted electronics with toxic materials inside, an investigation tracks e-waste from the U.S. to unregulated scrapyards in Hong Kong.www.pbs.org
This is why we need regulation. Capitalism does not self-regulate and we the customers have just about zero real choices.
