Now a part of Quantum Lifecycle Partners, GEEP Canada is in deep trouble. Apple is suing the company, which was the former recycling partner of Apple, for alleged theft and reselling of more than 100,000 devices. The company was hired to dismantle these devices in the first place.
The complaint by Apple, as reported by The Logic said, “At least 11,766 pounds of Apple devices left GEEP’s premises without being destroyed – a fact that GEEP itself confirmed”
Between January 2015 and December 2017, Apple gave the responsibility of recycling over 500,000 iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches to the recycling company.
More than 18% of the devices not being recycled
Nevertheless, in an audit by Apple, it uncovered that more 18 % of the devices are not being recycled. In fact, those devices are still accessing the Internet via cellular networks. And it does not end there. That 18 % does not take the Apple devices that do not work under cellular radio. So, the actual number of gadgets that are resold might be greater than that.
Apple claims that it must obtain at least $31 million CAD which is roughly $22.7 million USD from its ex-recycling partner.
GEEP Canada contradict any wrongdoing but does not refute theft
However, the firm denies any wrongdoing. But it does not deny the matter of theft. Apparently, it filed a third-party suit asserting that three employees nicked the gadgets on their own account. But Apple argues this claim that the employees did not attempt this theft and were in fact senior management at the recycling company.
Similar to other companies, the tech giant Apple has been repeatedly trying to enrich its environmental practices. In an effort towards this, it has moved recycling in-house with its very own dissembling bots, Daisy and Dave. Compared to traditional recyclers, these bots are designed to recover iPhone components and parts.
GEEP Canada offered many e-waste management services
Nonetheless, the company still depends on other recycling companies to recover precious parts from the used products and gadgets. And GEEP Canada was a part of those recycling companies from 2015 to 2018. The recycling company’s motto is “encourage reuse whenever possible”. Plus, reselling gadgets was also a part and parcel of GEEP Canada’s business. And the company delivered many e-waste management services. So, if you actually look into the claim by Apple, it is most probably true that they really tried to resell those devices.
But still according to Apple, those devices were not meant to be resold. Simply because they can be reused, does not mean that they meet the standards of Apple.
Though the complaint was filed in January 2020, the thefts were discovered way back in 2017 and 2018. After that, Apple has cut off all the ties with GEEP Canada. Since then it has not worked with that company.
