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Don’t skip the most likely option. It’s cheaper to make new batteries than to create a return program and recycle the lithium. So, no one pays (money) and the
by SV_BubbleTime 4y ago
Don’t skip the most likely option.
It’s cheaper to make new batteries than to create a return program and recycle the lithium.
So, no one pays (money) and the batteries go to the landfill.
It’s not necessarily about battery design. It’s that the cells need to be opened, the foil and layers removed and scrapped for lithium. It’s just always going to be a pain to rework than create new.
- fosk 4y agoApple has a program that allows you to buy a new iPhone model and get some money back if you actually give them the old phone that you are replacing. I was always under the assumption that apple actually recycles them because they want them in good condition, but maybe not? I also wonder if this is a program whose cost is factored in the final price of every iPhone (and therefore a cost that is distributed across the entire customer base), regardless if they are returning their old phones or not.
- SV_BubbleTime 4y agoWhen you send that phone back, it’s going to get cleaned up and sold in Asia or Latin America. I was at an open air mall in Borneo (Kutching) and saw all manner of new/used iPhones in official-ish Apple packaging.
- chrischen 4y agoAlso it’s not even Apple that takes it back. A third party does the trade in.