San Francisco to block Mac purchases citing lack of environmental EPEAT certification

14 years ago

“San Francisco city officials say they are moving to block purchases of Apple desktops and laptops, by all municipal agencies, after the company removed a green electronics certification from its products,” Joel Schectman reports for The Wall Street Journal.

“Officials with the San Francisco Department of Environment told CIO Journal on Monday they would send out letters over the next two weeks,informing all 50 of the city’s agencies that Apple laptops and desktops ‘will no longer qualify’ for purchase with city funds,” Schectman reports. “The move comes after CIO Journal reported that Apple had removed its laptops and notebooks from a voluntary registry of green electronics, called EPEAT. The standard, created jointly by manufacturers, including Apple, government agencies, and activist groups, requires that electronics products be designed for ease in recycling and higher energy efficiency. Apple requested that all 39 of its certified MacBooks and desktops be removed from the registry late last month, according to EPEAT staffers.”

“The move by city officials is largely symbolic. Only around 500-700, or 1%-2% total, of municipal computers are Macs, Walton estimated. In 2010, the last year for which the city has complete reports, the city spent $45,579 on Apple desktops, laptops and iPads (the last of which are not certifiable under EPEAT and would not be barred by the city’s policy.) That’s compared to a total of $3.8 million spent overall on desktops and laptops, in 2010,” Schectman reports. “‘Is there some significance? Yes. Major significance? No,’ said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Gartner, of Apple’s rejection of the standard. ‘Given the relatively small percentage [of organizations] that require 100% EPEAT-compliance, it’s not going to make a whole lot of difference to Apple.'”

Schectman reports, “‘We are disappointed that Apple chose to withdraw from EPEAT,’ said Melanie Nutter, director of San Francisco’s Department of Environment, ‘and we hope that the city saying it will not buy Apple products will make Apple reconsider its participation.'”

Read more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Some people are just so aptly named. It’s wholly unsurprising that she holds a prominent place in San Francisco city government.

Adhering to environmental standards when better options arise is madness. Government is notoriously slow to adapt to new ideas, especially once old ideas are codified.

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If all you want is to dispose of your unwanted equipment — regardless of brand — Apple Inc. will help you do that. Apple contracts with Sims Recycling Solutions to responsibly recycle computers and displays from any manufacturer. Sims Recycling Solutions feature domestic processing facilities where a zero-landfill policy and proven sustainability give you peace of mind in knowing that your electronics will be managed responsibly. Just call 800-966-4135 to receive a free prepaid shipping label. Then pack up your equipment using your own box and send it off. For more information about Sims Recycling Solutions, visit oem.srsapp.com/ApplePoweredBysims/.

More information about Apple’s extensive commitment to the environment here.