According to a research report by Waste Dive, a US electronic waste recycling organization, establishing a "Right to Repair" bill for electronic products, requiring manufacturers to provide product repair manuals and repair parts, would be the biggest driver in reducing electronic waste generation.
Since 2014, five U.S. states – South Dakota, New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Nebraska – have proposed similar “right to repair” bills for electronic products, but these bills have all failed to materialize. Moreover, electronic product brands including Apple, Cisco, and Xerox actively lobbied against these bills during the proposal stage.
In his report, Gay Gordon-Byrne, general manager of the Repair Association, pointed out that in the absence of market competition from repair shops, electronics manufacturers will set repair prices higher than buying new products, so that manufacturers can make a profit.
Globally, over 20 million tons of electronic waste are produced annually, with the United States alone producing approximately 3.4 million tons. The U.S. EPA estimates that the growth rate of electronic waste is 2-3 times that of other wastes subject to waste disposal regulations.
The Repair Association has long been committed to advocating and promoting the right to repair electronic products, aiming not only to reduce the generation of electronic waste but also to secure employment rights for electronic product repair technicians. iFixit, an electronics repair company, estimates that if the Right to Repair Act is formally implemented, it will not only effectively reduce the amount of electronic waste but also create 200 repair jobs while repairing 1,000 tons of used electronic products. This contribution is unparalleled by recycling (creating 15 jobs) and landfill (<1 job).
Sources:Environmental Leader (2016-09-26) (Compiled by PIDC)
