ATT wants majority recylable phones, accessories

AT&T in a quiet update has revealed that it has started to clamp down on the environmental standards for its phones. Starting this year and culminating in 2011, the company now expects that at least three quarters of the phones it sells will use 65 percent or more recyclable material. These companies will also have to reduce the amount of packaging they use, reduce the level of toxic materials to ROHS levels, and use ethically sourced materials that avoid trouble spots like the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Many of these phones will use the universal charger standard in development for 2012 and thus cut back on the amount of wasted chargers. Apple is still expected to use the Dock Connector but may pack in an adapter. Accessories are also expected to improve and should avoid the frequent blister-sealed plastic to cardboard and other recyclable material.

AT&T is not the first to implement an eco-friendly strategy, as carriers such as Sprint and T-Mobile both last year began carrying very recyclable phones like the Motorola Renew and Samsung Reclaim. However, the size of the carrier along with its emphasis on smartphones like the iPhone will potentially have a larger impact than at smaller rivals.

By Electronista Staff