As for recycling, the 9,500 tonnes of electronics, Apple says it has recycled since 1994, is puny given the amount of equipment the firm sells.

Developing vibrant national recycling schemes is complex and simply financing and transfering high tech equipment from developed countries is unlikely to work, according to the report.

First the big, accessible parts are removed, along with anything dangerous, and then heavy-duty shredders grind up the remainder into tiny pieces that can be sorted by standard recycling equipment.