iPod is Everwhere!

Steve Jobs just sold 110 million iPods!  That’s a figure with seven 0’s and an 11 before it.  That’s about one iPod for every three Americans living in the United States (population data source: World Fact Book).  This sleek tiny work of wonder called the iPod, with its storage capacity of up to 5,000 songs is literally littering the globe.  That’s a lot of iPods to supply replacement batteries with.  Granting that each gadget owner would have to replace his iPod nano battery only once in its lifetime (which is a bare minimum) that would mean 220,000,000 batteries, Ni-Cad and Li-Ion to litter the earth.  

Metrokc.gov, in its description of Ni-Cads says, “Ni-Cads are found in kitchen appliances, power tools, lighting, and computers. Ni-Cads are rechargeable. Although Ni-Cad batteries are more toxic than alkaline batteries, (italics mine) their longer life service makes them the best choice.”

Computerhope.com gives this caution to consumers, “Li-ion batteries have a very high energy density. Exercise precaution when handling and testing. Do not short circuit, overcharge, crush, mutilate, nail penetrate, apply reverse polarity, expose to high temperature or disassemble. High case temperature resulting from abuse of the cell could cause physical injury. Never try to charge a non-rechargeable lithium battery! Attempting to charge these batteries can cause explosion and fire which spreads toxic material (underscore mine) that can inflict injury and damage equipment.

Apple says they are “committed to reducing the environmental impact of the work [they] do and the products [they] create,” however, thegreenguide.com (a National Geographic Society subsidiary) says the iPod is not designed to have its toxin-laden battery replaced or removed.  They are calling on Apple to live up to its environmental commitment by making all iPods green by producing toxin-free iPods, by designing iPods so batteries can be easily and affordably replaced, and by providing take back and recycling options for iPods and other electronics.

In a sample letter thegreenguide.com prepared for those who wish to join and send the same “request” to Steve Jobs, they expressed their concern about the design and take back policies for the iPod nano battery, “Considering that the iPod battery wears down long before the rest of its hardware, and that it is expensive and difficult to replace.”   Furthermore, they are asking Apple to support legislation (alleging that Apple do not) that requires companies such as them to take responsibility for the electronics they sell once they become obsolete.  They fear that, “many iPods will wind up in landfills where the lead and other toxic chemicals they contain will put communities, ecosystems, and workers who harvest scrap parts at risk.”

Now that’s a tough break for someone who could sell 110 million iPods, isn’t it?  iPod users of the world…prolong your iPod nano battery life!  Let’s hope Steve Jobs could make green Apples before we find the need to replace our batteries.