Fix over throw
A new right to repair for the modern consumer George Bandy allure of new, cheap, and Ttheheconvenient has slowly quelled desire for long-living, repaira-
ble, products. Whilst potentially not always a conscious decision by the consumer, we have come to expect that the electronic products we bring home will not live with us as long as we might like. That is not to say all tech lives as the mayfly – most can certainly think of a TV that is still going strong in its golden years, or a washing machine that looks like it could spin in perpetuity. Many products, however, are not built of such sturdy stuff and even those that are cannot always bounce back from the occasional accident. What to do then when our electronics start faltering on us? The sad story of current figures suggests that these items quickly find their way into the waste bin. Europe ranked first worldwide in the 2019 UN e-waste monitor in terms of e-waste generation, with 16.2 kg per capita. (E-waste meaning any products with a battery, circuity, electrical components or a plug, which have been discarded without the intent to reuse.) More than half of this is large household appliances like cooking stoves and washing machines, with the rest being made up of things like kettles, smartphones, bedside lamps, and all the other small gadgets we have around.
“Europe ranked first worldwide in the 2019 UN e-waste monitor in terms of e-waste generation, with 16.2 kg per capita.” There are many reasons for our apparent hesitancy to fix over throw – not all of which are in our control. For one, technology has
become increasingly complex. The idea of opening up your device (if you even can), and having a look to see what is wrong, can be quite daunting; there is the looming risk of making things worse, or not being able to stick it back together again. That leaves users with the option of sending units back to manufacturers to be repaired in-house, or, if they are fortunate to know one, stop by their local (“certified”) repair store. With pricier items such as laptops or refrigerators, and when within the warranty, it is likely that consumers will do just so, as it makes sense cost-wise. (Note, warranties on average last one to two years – after that, you can often find the price of repair heading closer to the region of buying a whole new item.) “Cheaper” purchases like string lights or a toastie maker from Amazon are less likely to be sent back if, or when, they stop working, even when there might be the possibility to do so – unfortunately it often may seem more hassle than it is worth. Two, companies are not necessarily making it easy for consumers to repair their own goods; in fact, many seem to be doing the opposite. We find ourselves with items that are glued, bolted, welded, spliced and fused in a plethora of inventive ways – that – whilst possibly cutting some costs of production – result in products that, by design, refuse to be repaired. On the occasion we do get a glimpse inside, we can be stunted by non-standard batteries or custom gear, for which the manufacture has no plans of selling replacement – not to consumers nor repair shops. It is also uncommon to find information from the company itself on how to go about repairing their products. Much of this is left to handy YouTubers or blogging hobbyists. What may sound the most vexing when trying to work out how to
fix your stuff, is instances of planned obsolescence, whereby the manufacture intentionally limits the life span of its products. Last year’s lawsuit against Apple highlighted this phenomenon; they stood accused of secretly slowing down older iPhones as they launched new models, to induce owners to buy replacements.
“we have come to expect that the electronic products we bring home will not live with us as long as we might like “ Consumers then face a dilemma when staring at their laggard electronics. Whilst appreciating that it may just be a faulty battery or loose connection, the costs and time needed to get something repaired may just seem too much of a burden. Long return times, pricey parts, or the glamour of a new version already being available, is often enough to push our purchases into early retirement. However, there may be a change in the air. As part of its Circular Economy Strategy, the European Union is pushing back against the current state of irreparability amongst our electronic goods. New ecodesign regulations have recently come into force. Since 2009, the ecodesign framework constructed by the EU has looked to tackle energy labelling, recyclability, materials usage, and now, with the latest wave updates – repairability. Since the 1st of March, companies that sell consumer electronics such as refrigerators, washing machines, lights, or TVs in the EU will need to ensure those goods can be repaired for up to 10 years after the company has discontinued the model. This means making spare
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