Apple criticised over mobile design strategies which create e-waste
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - 17:20:47
While the iPhone may be one of the most popular mobile devices on the planet, its maker Apple has a history of building its products in such a way which prevents people from being able to repair them at home. And the degree to which third party intervention is dissuaded by the configuration of hardware components is not only annoying for owners, but also causes problems for professionals looking to help customers fix their handsets.
The Huffington Post points out that Apple could be accused of actively fighting the concept that gadgets should be reparable, resulting in issues when it comes to recycling and causing a mountain of electronic waste to be generated unnecessarily.
Of course in the past few months, Apple has actively been attempting to improve its image in this respect, showcasing a robot designed to recycle iPhones as efficiently and effectively as possible. But the point made by its critics is that recycling should be a last resort, with the more sustainable approach being to make devices which can be repaired and reused.
Even relatively minor issues, such as battery life problems caused by degradation over time, can be difficult to remedy without invasive repair work which can only be carried out by skilled professionals. From Apple’s point of view, it makes more commercial sense to convince customers to get rid of their current iPhone as soon as something goes wrong, so that they can upgrade to the latest model.
Reducing the amount of e-waste which is produced by the mobile market is important and if a handset from any manufacturer is beyond repair, then recycling it is a good idea.
Reputable mobile recycling firms will also repair and re-sell any devices which are still in a suitable condition, rather than stripping them for parts. So customers can rest assured that their handset will be dealt with in an eco-friendly manner.
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