Calling it battery service is interesting - they are most definitely simply replacing the AirPod. The $49 battery fee is for a single AirPod - replacement for the pair is $99.
The question I have is if they are able to meaningfully recycle the used AirPods or if they just end up in the landfill?
I'd bet the average person contributes 10 times more plastic waste every single day than a single pair of airpods (by weight).
Yes it's still wasteful, but one of the absolute least impactful places to start optimizing your life given how useful the things can be over their 2-3 year lifespan.
I do not think the plastic is what is concerning. It is the energy put into manufacturing and shipping the item. This is a high end electronic device, with a bluetooth modem and a lithium ion battery. Plastic waste is one of the least significant problems here.
The question I have is if they are able to meaningfully recycle the used AirPods or if they just end up in the landfill?