In life, it helps to have someone who can hold you accountable for your actions. In the case of electronics companies, it seems that Greenpeace is their accountability partner. The organization has recently released the current company rankings in its Greener Electronics Scale. To find out how certain companies fared, get "green-minded" and turn to the full article after the jump.

It recently came to Apple Inc. that some environmental organizations are criticizing it for not being a good model in terms of removing toxic chemicals from its new products as well as recycling old products.

CEO Steve Jobs came up then with a press release highlighting his company's plans about the matter. Jobs revealed though that these measures aren't exactly new, and that they've been doing this long before the said complaints made mass media. It's just that he felt the need to inform Apple's consumers and stakeholders because the above mentioned allegations are rather serious.

The list is quite long and the Read link should take to Jobs' complete statement. But some of the most important highlights include:

• Apple completely eliminated the use of CRTs in mid-2006. Dell, Gateway, Hewlett Packard and Lenovo still ship CRT displays today.
• Apple products met both the spirit and letter of the RoHS restrictions on cadmium, hexavalent chromium and brominated flame retardants years before RoHS went into effect.
• Apple plans to completely eliminate the use of arsenic in all of its displays by the end of 2008.
• Apple plans to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of mercury by transitioning to LED backlighting for all displays when technically and economically feasible.
• Apple plans to completely eliminate the use of PVC and BFRs in its products by the end of 2008.
• Apple recycled 13 million pounds of e-waste in 2006, which is equal to 9.5% of the weight of all products Apple sold seven years earlier.
• We expect this percentage to grow to 13% in 2007, and to 20% in 2008. By 2010, we forecast recycling 19 million pounds of e-waste per year Â? nearly 30% of the product weight we sold seven years earlier.
• All the e-waste we collect in North America is processed in the U.S., and nothing is shipped overseas for disposal.
• Apple products are designed using high quality materials that are in high demand from recyclers.

Apple Inc. and environmental group Greenpeace never got along - despite the company's efforts to improve their green practices. Greenpeace argues that since Apple is shaping up to be a leader in design and product innovation, they should also be a leader in recycling and other environment-friendly activities. Well, Greenpeace is once again pounding on the gates of Apple because of an upcoming Apple board of directors action.

This time around, the target is former vice president, Apple board member, and environmentalist Al Gore. Apparently, the Board has two proposals that would strengthen Apple's environmental policies. But according to Apple, shareholders will be informed that the Apple board is "unanimously" against the plan when the said proposals are sent to the shareholders for voting.

So with that, Greenpeace is urging Al Gore to support the proposals and use his leadership ability and environmental track record to improve Apple Inc.'s environmental policies. For now, former VP Gore has no comment about that.

If you think about it, at the rate manufacturers in general are going, updating their existing products or developing new ones, the technology that we knew maybe 2-3 months ago, has suddenly become obsolete. Now what to do with the "obsolete products" that we have acquired during the course of our tech life? Sure we can make a museum of it. Watch as it's price hit the roof because of it being a relic and make a killing over at eBay. Or we could dispose of them properly and send them off to a recycling plant.

Australia, lead by the Australian Information Industry Association, is a favorite among major computer-makers such as HP, Dell, and IBM, that already offer successful recycling programs in the land down under. But it seems like although Apple has began its global recycling initiative in 1996, with efforts in the US, Canada, Japan and Europe, the campaign has not started in Australia.

"Apple doesnÂ?t have a recycling program in Australia like we do in the U.S.; however, we are currently talking to the AIIA about creating a potential program,Â? said Apple spokesperson John Marks.

Griffith University electronic waste expert Sunil Heart said there are more than nine million computers in use around Australia, and this year a further 2.1 million computers will enter the market, while more than three million are expected to become obsolete. She hopes that there will be initiative from Apple to also make a computer take-back in that part of the globe.

Apple recently launched its Computer Take-Back Program that offers US Mac buyers an environmentally responsible way of discarding their old computers. Starting yesterday, the Apple Store and all Apple retail stores are giving  customers the option to  recycle their unwanted PCs regardless of brand.  Participating customers will receive an email from Apple with instructions and a label for free shipping and recycling.  All customers have to do is package their old equipment, attach the label provided and send them on their way. People living in or near Cupertino can also avail of the company's free drop-off recycling service at its headquarters.  According to the company all equipment received will be recycled domestically and no hazardous material will be shipped overseas.
 
Speaking of Green Apple, the company's free iPod recycling program is still available to consumers looking for environmentally friendly way to dispose of unwanted iPod.  Participants to the iPod program not only help keep the planet cleaner, they also get a 10% discount on the purchase of a new iPod. 

Since 1994,  Apple's recycling programs have processed more than 21 million pounds of electronics around the world.  We say keep up the good, green work!

CNN reports that Apple will soon add the option of recycling your old computer for free when buying a new Mac, because normally it costs $30 to recycle your Mac. They're planning on starting this offer in June.

"U.S. customers who buy a new Mac through the Apple store online or any Apple retail store will receive free shipping and recycling of their old machines", CNN reports.

At the moment most Apple retailers accept old iPod music players for free recycling when you're buying a new Mac. Also, people who live near Cupertino (where Apple is based), they can drop off their old Macs at the headquarters.

Some organizations, which weren't very positive about Apple's regulations in the past, applaud this offer and they're saying Apple is now closer to Dell and HP for that matter. What do you think about this new offer? Post below!