Apple iPhone Is 'Hazardous' and Hard to Recycle: Greenpeace

As if Apple’s iPhone wasn’t getting enough heat for sluggish downloading, poor service, and a hefty price tag. Now Greenpeace claims the mobile eye-candy is difficult to recycle and contains hazardous chemicals.

According to the Irish Times, Greenpeace says it’s recent analysis revealed the iPhone contains brominated flame retardants (though at levels within European Union Standards) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), while also grumbling the phone’s battery is so well glued in place that recycling is nearly impossible.

According to Terra Daily, environmental lawyers at the Center for Environmental Health in Oakland, California are reacting to Greenpeace’s reports and threatening to sue Apple if it doesn't warn buyers of toxins or make their products greener.

Certain brominated flame retardants have been shown to accumulate in the body, and potential toxicity is enough of a concern that the EU has restricted their use. The manufacture and disposal of PVC has long been a concern among environmentalists.

Despite such harsh attacks, Greenpeace noted the components tested met EU standards preventing the use of lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium in electrical and electronic goods.

Greenpeace International has long criticized Apple’s environmental practices. Last year, Apple took a beating when Greenpeace ranked it as one of the least eco-friendly electronics company and launched the "Green My Apple" campaign to expose environmental shortcomings.

Apple, however is proud of their “environmental accolades.” The company’s website boasts, "best in class in EPEAT, an environmental assessment tool launched under an initiative of the Environmental Protection Agency." EPEAT considers not environmentally sensitive materials, but a product’s larger footprint based on energy consumption, recycling programs, product lifecycle, and packaging.

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