Electronic devices continue to be the fastest growing waste stream in the US and cell phones are a major part of this. In 2011, manufacturers produced more than 1.68 billion wireless phones worldwide. In the United States alone, it’s estimated that fewer than 10 percent of discarded mobile phones will be recycled.
Regular phone upgrades are driving the growth of electronic waste. Companies like Apple regularly upgrade their technology and encourage users to buy new models. This built-in obsolesce is the kind of irresponsible business practices that drive profits but destroy the environment.
AT&T concedes that there is “much work to be done” as millions of devices are discarded every year without being recycled.
Despite the efforts of leading American mobile phone companies like AT&T and Sprint, the US still lags behind Europe when it comes to responsible business practices. A Verdantix study, found that sustainability is still not central to the business strategy and product marketing of the major US telcom firms the way it is for European telecom industry.
© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
Related Articles
AT&T’s Record Breaking Recycling for Wireless Devices
Sprint’s Industry Leading Cell Phone Recycling
E-Waste: A New Business Opportunity
Steve Jobs: Apple’s Product Recycling Efforts
Recycling is a Business Imperative
What the Business Community can do for America Recycles Day
America Recycles Day 2012
The Largest Recycling Operation in the World
What is TerraCycle (Video)
TerraCycle Making Products from Waste (Video)
TerraCycle and Upcycling (Video)
TerraCycle Reach a Major Milestone in Non-Recyclable Waste Diversion
Terracycle Facebook Game App: Upcycling & Recycling
Recycling In America: More Than Just A Feel Good Experience
Recycling Can Create Millions of Jobs
Recycling Waste Tires
America Recycles Day (ARD)
PepsiCo Canada’s 100% Recycled EcoGreen Bottle Breakthrough
LG’s Recycling Leadership
GreenBlue’s Packaging Design
The 3 Stages of a Recycling Loop
Study on US Environmental Attitudes
Coke’s Zero Waste Carbon Neutral Olympic Sponsorship
HP’s Sustainable Innovation
Best Practices for Sustainable Businesses
Video: Does Your Business Recycle?
Video: Profitable Recycling for Business
Video: The Perils of Plastic Waste
Discover more from Change Oracle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
