Business

San Fran to Apple: Sorry, But We Can‘t Possibly Buy Your Computers Now That They’re Not ‘Green’ Certified

SAN FRANCISCO (The Blaze/AP) — Apple’s decision to withdraw from a voluntary environmental ratings registry known EPEAT [Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool] has prompted San Francisco to stop buying its computers.

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

San Fran to Apple: Sorry, But we Cant Possibly Buy Your Computers Now That Theyre not ‘Green’ CertifiedFrancis Tsang, spokesman for Mayor Edwin Lee’s office, says the city’s rules require that laptops, computers and monitors comply with the registry’s requirements.

However, the decision does not apply to iPads or iPhones.

San Francisco’s chief information officer, Jon Walton, who oversees the city’s computer procurement, told CIO Journal that he supports a no-Apple policy. He added that if agencies really, really need Apple computers, they can always apply for waivers. However, he added, it would be a “long” and “onerous” process.

Seriously? Agency workers will need a waiver to get an Apple computer?

“It’s going to be very problematic to procure Apple products,” Walton said.

Late last month, Apple Inc. told the nonprofit EPEAT to remove its products from its registry. It also plans to stop submitting its products to EPEAT for environmental ratings.

EPEAT is an industry standard that seeks to make it easier for customers to buy environmentally friendly electronics. Manufacturers still participating include Dell Inc., Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Samsung, and Sony.

Although it pulled out of the environmental registry, Apple has long pointed to its environmental track record. On the “environment” section of its website, Apple says it “reports environmental impact comprehensively. We do this by focusing on our products: what happens when we design them, what happens when we make them, and what happens when you take them home and use them.”

For example, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company has replaced many of the hazardous materials in its gadgets with less harmful and more recyclable ones, and has designed longer-life batteries for its computers, media players and phones. Its recycling program offers gift cards to people who send in their old Apple gadgets for recycling.

At this writing,  it’s not entirely clear why Apple decided to withdraw from EPEAT.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments (87)

  • Republic_of_Texas
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:26pm

    I think it is an Apple marketing ploy. Makes me want to buy another one.

    Report Post » Republic_of_Texas  
    • Maji
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:41am

      The truth of the statement “they can’t buy” they’re broke!
      It’s not green.. or..They have no green!

      Report Post »  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 6:01am

      Hopefully Apple will tell them they are “sorry” and move on; then SF can try to find some other company to extort, or just do without. That would be a novel idea!

      Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:20pm

      O’broke-ma never pays a diner-bill or is his brother’s keeper. So, do you think commie/prog Frisco or any other Cala-broke-nia democrat-forever-run state is going to pay Apple when their bill comes due?? Apple is sorry it ever did business with Cala-broke-nia. Wonder how many other commi/dem states are scofflaws(non-payers) for Apple to get stiffed from?! The public UNION sector is ripe-and-stankey and prides itself on not-paying so their leaders get their graft-raises on time. Oh, the less-than-slave Union-peon-worker BETTER PAY YOUR DUES to support your local(and not-so-local) commie-polititions to keep the graft comming-in. Soon the tapped-out “public$$” will be zero an you all (lemming-worker bees) out of a job with no nuthin’ and the Union-leaders will make-out no-matter-what.

      Report Post »  
    • ccfonten
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:32pm

      What is San Fran going to use now? Pencils…nope that uses lead or graphite…..paper?…nope….save the trees!…word of mouth?….nope…..OMG!……..think of the CO2 expelled????!!!!
      I know…………just shut up.

      Report Post » ccfonten  
    • TexasHunter
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:48pm

      Who Cares what San Fran does ! They elected rubber face twice ! Get a clue Cali !!

      Report Post » TexasHunter  
    • anomnomnommm
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:04am

      Recycling is a scam! It‘s Obama’s fault! God save us all.

      Report Post »  
  • ULYSSESG
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:23pm

    So funny, liberals NEVER EVER think it through, so dumb…..hope that POS of a state falls into total collapse…not far with 3 cities claiming now going under,….HEY L.A. your NEXT………….EF CALI…

    Report Post » ULYSSESG  
    • lukerw
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:03am

      Then… the Federal Government will Bail it out, with your Tax Dollars… and the Californians will move to another State, and do it all over again! See the Solution?

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • Prosecute_Constitutional_Treason_In_Washington
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:01pm

    SF is a member of the criminal extortion racket called green. It’s the same as any gang. Threaten and extort from the wage earners. Thugs they are.

    Report Post » Prosecute_Constitutional_Treason_In_Washington  
  • HKS
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:54pm

    Gee, it would be a shame if apple took offense and relocated its operations out of California.

    Report Post » HKS  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:42am

      Wouldn’t it just? :)

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • jethrObama
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:09pm

      This will never ever happen. Steve Jobs loved Cupertino and they are building a huge spaceship shaped disk-like campus there on the old HP campus that will exceed the size of the pentagon.

      Report Post »  
  • aposematic
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:50pm

    Come on Apple, get back in the game and start kicking some of your income to the greenies again.

    Report Post »  
    • Prosecute_Constitutional_Treason_In_Washington
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:59pm

      The green industry is just another criminal enterprise operating an extortion racket to pay into or else be cut off by it’s members. These are gangs no different than MS13 or the Hells Angels. They are all the same. SF is a green gang member. Most likely your local gov. is too along with your local police department are gangs. They all wear their gang colors and drive their gang vehicles and use their gang courts to collect their gang revenue or tax. Amerika is not free and you are a slave just like a free range chicken. Your eggs are taken from you and in the end you are plucked and cooked. Hope you enjoy the liberty.

      Report Post » Prosecute_Constitutional_Treason_In_Washington  
    • 1947
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 11:10pm

      Apple let the buyers us the EBT card they will buy then

      Report Post »  
    • anomnomnommm
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:07am

      This has nothing to do with the government. Labels like these simply allow consumers to make informed decisions about what they are buying. They may opt out of the standard and the consumers may purchase products accordingly. San Francisco is just one more buyer. “Made in USA” labels are the same thing.

      Report Post »  
  • garbagecanlogic
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:44pm

    Some people refer to San Fran as the arsehole of the world. Actually it is the “looney toon town” of the world.

    Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8

    The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
    The U.N. Out Of The U.S.

    Report Post »  
  • TimeToLoadThePitchforks
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:32pm

    SO before long Kalifornia will be nothing but Illegal aliens and pot heads. Oh wait that already happened. they even have one of the later as a governor…..nevermind

    Report Post »  
  • Dallasmarine
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:23pm

    Welcome to Texas Apple. You will be very happy here as long as you stay within the city limits of Austin. Less taxes,regulations, but still the kooks that I know you would have missed.. The best of both worlds.

    Report Post »  
  • SolitudeBliss
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:23pm

    I’m sorry but is S.F.‘s ego so big that they think they are Apple’s only customer??????

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Like the City depts not buying Apple products will do anything for Apple’s sales. That’s almost as delusional as thinking that you can tax your way out of our deficit problem. Hate to break it to you San Fran – Your purchase doesn’t make a difference in Hell so you can go to Hell. And take your commie registry on “Green Products” and shove it where the sun don’t shine.

    Report Post »  
    • christhefanatic
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:31pm

      No, don,t shove it there. This is San Francisco we,re talking about. They would enjoy that.

      Report Post »  
    • SolitudeBliss
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:01pm

      @christhefanatic – Good one….

      Report Post »  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:19am

      christhefanatic

      Now that is Hilarious!

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:26pm

      Hell is the only place one can NOT declare bankruprcy!! :-)

      Report Post »  
    • jethrObama
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:13pm

      You hit the nail on the head about kalifornian’s… not all, but a good many of them think they are the “trend setters” of the modern world. Makes me want to puke. The latest is their over-priced billion dollar high speed train between S.F. and L.A. which out to the final nail in their bankrupt coffin.

      If the democrats are in power in 2013, we will be bailing California out federally.

      If the republicans (RINO’s too) are in power, maybe we can tell Commifornia to “go fish.”

      Report Post »  
  • scrudge
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:11pm

    Ah Yes… who cares soon they will also declare bankrupcy…. let the illegals have the state

    Report Post »  
  • TX_45_ACP
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:06pm

    I hope Apple calls their bluff. Not having their Apple is like not having their Starbucks.

    Report Post » TX_45_ACP  
  • jnw325
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:05pm

    “Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it EPEAT… I will. I got spare time. But for now, for your customer’s sake, for your daughter’s sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.”

    Taken from the movie Tommy Boy……. sort of

    Report Post » jnw325  
  • Wolfgang the Gray
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:51pm

    “However, the decision does not apply to iPads or iPhones.”

    Double standard hypocrisy. They don’t even have the balls to stand up for what they believe.

    San Fransicko doesn’t need computers anyway, they can just let the illegal aliens count up the debt on their fingers and toes.

    Report Post » Wolfgang the Gray  
  • Tortilla
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:50pm

    My next computer’s gonna be a Mac. Heck, I’m typing this on an iPad, but I was planning on sticking with a PC until I heard Apple’s screwing EPEAT. Right on, screw those self righteous power hungry controlling fools!

    Report Post »  
  • yiska8
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:49pm

    I will now look into buying a Mac for Christmas. I loathe the potlitical green agenda and environmental whack jobs. I think Apple is overblown/hyped marketing wise, but now that they are realizing the unecessary expense of this green *ullshit scam, I have mustered up some respect for the company. San Fran is a complete joke. Hippies, the gay agenda, and the green wackos. Apple Inc., you are more than welcome in Texas. Microsoft just moved a huge data center to San Antonio.

    Report Post » yiska8  
    • chips1
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:11am

      If they move to Texas, they should refuse to sell to California. That would increase their sales in all of the other states.

      Report Post »  
    • yiska8
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:11pm

      @Chips1
      Damn straight. Instead of worrying about this stupid issue, Cali should be *hitting bricks about where they heck they are going to find more clean WATER and energy. Most central California towns are out of water. No fruit. No veggies. No Food. Most definitely, other states would buy Apple products.just knowing that the imbecile Californians are dropping the product.

      Report Post » yiska8  
  • FloridaFarmGirl
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:48pm

    Anyone from California considering moving to Florida-PLEASE DON’T!!! We have had too many liberals moving here because they hate where they are from, only to vote for more government and more taxes to turn my state into what they fled from. Never ending vicious cycle that makes no sense. Go elsewhere please, we have had enough.

    Report Post »  
    • TimeToLoadThePitchforks
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:28pm

      What’s new Yankees have been doing that to Florida (might as well rename it New York South) for decades why should it be any different for the loony tunes from whacky town (kalifornia)

      Report Post »  
    • christhefanatic
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:42pm

      Message from California: Anyone out there….please nuke us!

      Report Post »  
  • Epic Fail
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:46pm

    So what are they going to switch to? Some politician opened their big stupid mouth before they thought it through. They will continue to use Apple becuase they have nothing to switch to and becuase they are liberals.

    Report Post » Epic Fail  
  • essence428
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:41pm

    Nice. Apple is saying “I will not comply.” Let’s hope they stand their ground and others follow.

    Report Post »  
  • Too_Far_Gone
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:28pm

    This is past the point of anything to be taken seriously, let them have their pathetic little side shows and burn themselves out, unless they get in your face, then stomp their whining little azzes…

    Report Post » Too_Far_Gone  
    • its_time_to_arrest_our_government
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:48pm

      if i was apple i wouldn’t sell them anything. Id put them in a pile and trash them before i sold them anything. id say that their green is not green enough to buy our computers. go screw a goat!

      Report Post »  
  • MAMMY_NUNN
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:27pm

    Who really trust those rating agencies anyways like the BBB you can always buy your own ratings or get a poor rating when you don’t pay the extortion demands.

    Report Post »  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:21pm

    Apple could bail out your filthy broken city with its pocket change… sit down. Nobody cares.

    And I don’t even like Apple products.

    Report Post » N37BU6  
  • Lord_Frostwind
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:18pm

    Hey Apple, how is that friendship with the leftist loonies working out for you?

    Report Post » Lord_Frostwind  
  • republic2011
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:17pm

    Frickin politicians in CA. We are bankrupt and the beggars are still trying to be choosers. Apple should run laughing to the bank. CA politicians are putz’s.

    Report Post »  
    • JULIKINS209
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:39am

      I agree, I hail from Stockton CA and I am embarassed to tell people where I live. Us conservatives are drowning in Political BS. Now our politicians just passed a bill not to deport illegals. And they want my vote for higher taxes. What idiots. The sad thing is the liberals will vote it in. I would love to move to a more conservative state.

      Report Post »  
  • paperpushermj
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:17pm

    copied post from JoeBatters •
    .
    Well then … If I were Apple, I would announce that we are moving the Mac show away from the Moscone Center in SF and to Las Vegas.

    Report Post » paperpushermj  
    • Chuck C.
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:43pm

      Moving out of Mexifornia would be a wise move……they would recoup their moving cost very quickly getting away from all of the taxes and tariffs……….This is a no brainer….up your profit forecast……move.

      Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:45pm

      That would be the best idea.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In