Apple sues recycler for allegedly reselling 100,000 devices it was hired to scrap
Apple alleges in a lawsuit that Geep Canada sold approximately 100,000 iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches, which the recycler had received to be stripped down and recycled.
Apple's recycling robot, Daisy
Apple has long been working to increase how much it recycles, and even as it attempts to move more of that process in house, it still continues to rely on certain partner companies. Since 2014, that's included Geep Canada, the electronics recycling firm which Apple is reportedly now suing.
According to The Logic, Apple estimates that Geep Canada stole around 100,000 iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches that it had been hired to recycle.
Geep does not deny the thefts, but has filed a counter suit claiming that they were conducted by three "rogue" employees without the knowledge of the company. Apple argues that these employees were in fact senior management at the firm.
Although the case has only now been publicly revealed, Apple filed its suit in January 2020 while Geep filed its countersuit in July. Seemingly, Apple discovered the alleged thefts at the end of 2017 or start of 2018, and at some point after that ceased working with Geep. In September 2019, Geep Canada merged with other firms to form Quantum Lifecycle Partners.
Apple's suit states that the company shipped 531,966 iPhones to Geep Canada for recycling between January 2015 and December 2017, along with 25,673 iPads, and 19,277 Apple Watches. Apple then audited Geep's warehouse and, according to The Logic, learned that some of its devices were being stored away from those of other firms.
Discovering that these areas were not covered by security cameras, Apple then checked the serial numbers of all devices it had shipped to the company. Reportedly, approximately 18% or 103,845 of all those devices were discovered by Apple to be active on carrier networks. Apple claims that the number of stolen devices will be considerably higher, since non-LTE ones wouldn't be shown.
"At least 11,766 pounds of Apple devices left GEEP's premises without being destroyed - a fact that GEEP itself confirmed," said Apple in its suit
Apple is seeking full recovery of the profits made from the resale of these devices, plus $31 million Canadian ($22.7 million US). The new company Quantum Lifecycle Partners told The Logic that "the lawsuit is between Geep and Apple and we have no knowledge regarding the details."
According to Geep's court filings, the company is looking for the three employees to pay damages and costs, if Apple wins. The company says that it suffered "extensive businesses losses" because of the thefts and Apple's terminating of the contract.
Recycling is one of the key efforts Apple cites in its annual environmental report on how it's operating its facilities, and engineering its devices.
Apple's recycling robot, Daisy
Apple has long been working to increase how much it recycles, and even as it attempts to move more of that process in house, it still continues to rely on certain partner companies. Since 2014, that's included Geep Canada, the electronics recycling firm which Apple is reportedly now suing.
According to The Logic, Apple estimates that Geep Canada stole around 100,000 iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches that it had been hired to recycle.
Geep does not deny the thefts, but has filed a counter suit claiming that they were conducted by three "rogue" employees without the knowledge of the company. Apple argues that these employees were in fact senior management at the firm.
Although the case has only now been publicly revealed, Apple filed its suit in January 2020 while Geep filed its countersuit in July. Seemingly, Apple discovered the alleged thefts at the end of 2017 or start of 2018, and at some point after that ceased working with Geep. In September 2019, Geep Canada merged with other firms to form Quantum Lifecycle Partners.
Apple's suit states that the company shipped 531,966 iPhones to Geep Canada for recycling between January 2015 and December 2017, along with 25,673 iPads, and 19,277 Apple Watches. Apple then audited Geep's warehouse and, according to The Logic, learned that some of its devices were being stored away from those of other firms.
Discovering that these areas were not covered by security cameras, Apple then checked the serial numbers of all devices it had shipped to the company. Reportedly, approximately 18% or 103,845 of all those devices were discovered by Apple to be active on carrier networks. Apple claims that the number of stolen devices will be considerably higher, since non-LTE ones wouldn't be shown.
"At least 11,766 pounds of Apple devices left GEEP's premises without being destroyed - a fact that GEEP itself confirmed," said Apple in its suit
Apple is seeking full recovery of the profits made from the resale of these devices, plus $31 million Canadian ($22.7 million US). The new company Quantum Lifecycle Partners told The Logic that "the lawsuit is between Geep and Apple and we have no knowledge regarding the details."
According to Geep's court filings, the company is looking for the three employees to pay damages and costs, if Apple wins. The company says that it suffered "extensive businesses losses" because of the thefts and Apple's terminating of the contract.
Recycling is one of the key efforts Apple cites in its annual environmental report on how it's operating its facilities, and engineering its devices.
Comments
Reduce > Reuse > Recyle.
But, that's not what Geep was contracted to do so it's still a violation of that agreement.
But the Apple hater/clickbait crowd won't bother/care to actually think things through to the point of how Apple should handle the support (and potential lawsuits) for devices which have unknown defects. That's how they ended up on the blind belief path in the first place.
Apple does have a refurbished product section for devices which can be repaired and resold, so clearly these devices had problems which go beyond that.
The recyclability of the items in question is completely irrelevant to the corrupt business dealings and the fraud that was committed against Apple.
Facts don't care about your feelings. The firm didn't do its job by violating the terms of its agreement with Apple. And who's to say "reuse" is better than "recycle". As far as I knew, they are equally valid ways of being "in the best interest of the planet".
Step 2: get paid to sell inventory
Step 3: profit! Get it?
Their usability is irrelevant. The contract was to scrap them, not to profit from Apple essentially giving them the units to be recycled or otherwise disposed.
Yeah Apple doesn't care about the planet. If they did they'd have recycling programs for their electronics and use renewable energy.
Also "greedy Apple" should be giving these broken iPhones away to poor developers.
This recycling firm was not doing their job, no matter what you want to believe. Their job was to recycle the devices, not resell them, as is evident when you referred to them as "this recycling firm".
I for one want a phone that fully functions and isn't going to pose a threat of explosion.
(Might also add that Apple publishes all of this information in their sustainability report, no one else seems to think the content of that report is 'rubbish')