Thanks for the comment! It’s certainly possible that there is a lot more USB-C in the average person’s house than I’m assuming. Going through my box of cables, I was surprised that I have accumulated more USB-C cables than I thought I had. Still, the number of USB-C chargers I have is still quite lacking, which I assume is mostly driven by so many companies no longer including chargers with their devices, and I’d guess that not having enough USB-C chargers is a common issue. You could say that this is a problem of Apple’s own making since they were the first to remove their chargers from iPhones, and I ultimately think it’s a good thing to make people buy their own chargers so they only end up getting as many as they need. But having to buy even a small amount of chargers and cords will be an added cost that many will be upset about, and understandably so. I think that Apple’s middle step of using Lighting-to-USB-C cords for iPhones was a good one. Yes, it’s more e-waste in terms of being another Lightning cord, but it prevents USB-A chargers and old Lightning cords from being thrown out.

You’re absolutely right that Apple should be taking the lead in getting people to reuse or recycle Lightning cords. Getting one USB-C cable if you hand in 3-5 Lightning ones seems like it’d be a huge hit. I feel like admitting that this e-waste will be created is something Apple doesn’t want to talk about, but they need to and could easily make what they are doing with Lightning cords and USB-A chargers a part of their environmental story that they are so proud of. Personally, it’s going to take me years before I have no Lightning-using devices, so I won’t be getting rid of my cables for a long time.