The Right to Repair is Crucial to E-Waste Reductions

Making devices easier to repair so that they last longer can help stop a tidal wave of electronic trash.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): In an era defined by rapid technological development, the exponential growth of electronic devices creates convenience and unprecedented challenges. As new technologies and gadgets transform our lifestyles, a silent crisis looms on the horizon: electronic waste, or e-waste, is a significant threat to our environment. Making devices easier to repair so that they last longer can help stop a tidal wave of electronic trash.

E-waste not only packs landfills but also releases toxic substances into soil and water, endangering ecosystems and public health, in no small part as a consequence of corporations not designing their products to last. Consumers and small businesses have called for greater autonomy and the ability to affordably repair defective and worn out products, in what has come to be known as the Right-to-Repair movement.

As expected, corporate push-back to such proposals has slowed progress. These practices contribute to a wasteful throwaway culture. Yet, despite the pocketbook savings and environmental benefits consumers would reap if they could fix their phones and even in-vehicle digital systems easily, many remain unaware of their growing rights to fix broken or worn down devices like smartphones, laptops, or computers.

Right to Repair: Consumers vs. Corporations

When devices break down or stop working properly, it makes more sense to fix or replace the damaged parts rather than buying a new product. However, consumers frequently find that their repair options are restricted to either manufacturer-approved outlets or through the company’s own service organization, often at a steep price. Moreover, relying on the annual introduction of newer and better, ever more expensive models that encourage upgrading instead of preserving devices, companies continue to design their products obsolescence built-in.

Repairs are more costly than buying a new product or upgrading. It isn’t surprising that broken devices are often discarded and become e-waste well before they stop working.

While hard-to-repair electronics might be a nuisance for consumers, it represents a greater problem for small businesses that provide more affordable repair services. Newer, slimmer models use glue or solder delicate chips and components in configurations that make it increasingly difficult to take products apart for repair. Meanwhile, manufacturers don’t provide the necessary schematics, manuals, software diagnostics, and special repair tools required to perform such repairs unless businesses become certified corporate partners.

Dissatisfaction with such questionable practices has grown to the point where politicians and even some companies cannot ignore the outcry from consumers. Over the past decade, a burgeoning movement advocating for individuals’ right to repair began coalescing, gaining significant traction. Proponents argue that consumers should be allowed to fix the items they bought, potentially saving $40 billion a year. They point out that authorized repair shops and professionals should be allowed access at reasonable prices to technical documents, parts, and tools needed to perform these repairs, allowing small businesses to operate.

Meanwhile, limited warranties and built in death-dates can lead to situations such as the Chromebook debacle that left many schools unable to use otherwise serviceable laptops after their software update licenses expired.

A recent global survey of laptop and desktop computers users found that up to 67% of participants weren’t familiar with their potential right to repair the products they own.  Even if people’s awareness of the concept itself is surprisingly limited, Consumer Reports survey found that over 80% of adult Americans would favor right-to-repair legislation when asked.

 Courtesy: www.earth911.com

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