The Right to Repair Movement: Fixing Electronics, Saving the Planet

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We live in a world where we’re consistently bombarded with commercials that inspire us to buy, buy, and buy. Your phone screen cracks, your laptop slows to a crawl, or your headphones stop working after the warranty expires. Every single thing has a hidden message to discard the old.

What’s the solution? Buy a new one. At least, that’s what tech companies want us to think.

For years, manufacturers have made fixing the devices we own harder by locking parts behind proprietary software and designing nearly impossible-to-open gadgets. But the right to repair movement is slowly changing that perspective.

This movement challenges the throwaway culture that has taken over the global economy and champions the idea of reclaiming ownership over the products we buy. It’s a simple concept that can help curb the e-waste crisis.

This post explores the path to a repair-friendly world and how the right-to-repair movement benefits the growing e-waste problem.

What Is the Right to Repair Movement?

The right to repair movement advocates for consumers’ ability to fix their own electronics and appliances. It calls on manufacturers to provide access to tools, parts, and repair manuals, making extending a product’s lifecycle easier than replacing it.

Currently, many devices are designed to be difficult or even impossible to repair. This leads to more waste and higher costs for consumers.

But change is happening. Studies show that if repair laws were implemented, e-waste could be reduced by up to 30%. The US Public Interest Research Group estimates that consumers could save as much as $40 billion a year by fixing devices instead of replacing them. The movement supports the economic and environmental benefits of repairing, selling, or tossing away devices.

The Key Moments in the Right to Repair Movement

The right to repair movement didn’t happen overnight. It has been a long battle driven by consumer demand and legislative pushes. Over the years, repair advocates have fought against manufacturer restrictions to pave the way for fairer repair policies. This movement has come a long way, from early grassroots efforts to major legal victories.

Here’s a video that showcases the timeline of key events in the movement.

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Each milestone reflects the growing momentum behind the right to repair, which are as follows:

• 2000s: The Movement Gains Traction
  Consumers and independent repair shops speak out against manufacturers limiting access to repairs. Advocacy efforts pick up, calling for fairer repair rights.

• 2012: The Repair Coalition Forms
  A group of organizations in the US is urging legislation that would grant consumers and repair professionals access to essential tools, parts, and information.

• 2019: Massachusetts Leads the Way
  Massachusetts became the first US state to pass a right-to-repair law, requiring automakers to share repair data with independent mechanics. This set a major legal precedent.

• 2020: Apple’s Self-Service Repair Program
  In a surprising move, Apple launches a program allowing consumers to buy official parts and access repair manuals for certain devices, signaling a shift in the industry.

• 2021: Right to Repair Act Hits Congress
  The US Congress introduced the federal Right to Repair Act. This law ensures fair access to parts, tools, and documentation for repairing electronics and other products.

• 2022: The European Union Steps Up
  The European Union enacts a law requiring manufacturers to make spare parts available for up to 10 years for certain electronics. It marked a major win for repair advocates worldwide.

The Voices Behind the Right to Repair Movement

Choosing the perfect laptop doesn’t mean you have to discard your old device. There are plenty of ways to turn that old tech into something useful.

However, repairing always comes first. This movement reminds us that every device we repair is one less item in a landfill. It supports consumer rights and sustainability and opposes corporate control.

Several key figures and organizations have taken up the cause and played a massive role in making repair more accessible.

Louis Rossmann, a well-known YouTuber and repair technician, has fiercely criticized manufacturer restrictions. He said, "It’s not about making money; it’s about making sure people aren’t ripped off for trying to fix their own stuff." His views and advocacy have helped bring the right to repair into the mainstream conversation.

Besides, if you’ve ever searched for a repair guide, chances are you’ve come across iFixit. This company provides free repair manuals, tools, and replacement parts, making DIY fixes easier. iFixit believes that "The right to repair is fundamental to consumer rights and environmental sustainability."

Kyle Wiens, iFixit’s CEO, has also been at the forefront of this movement with the belief: "When you can repair something, you increase its life cycle and reduce waste. Repairing, rather than replacing, is a cornerstone of sustainability."

The right to repair movement also has advocates working on the legal side, such as the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). PIRG pushes for laws that grant consumers access to repair parts and manuals. Their lobbying efforts have been commendable in passing these laws in multiple states.

Environmental groups are not far behind. Organizations like Greenpeace advocate for sustainable repair solutions and emphasize the connection between e-waste and its environmental impact.

The Environmental Cost of Tossing Electronics

How often do we toss out an old phone, laptop, or tablet without a second thought? Maybe it’s because the battery no longer holds a charge or the screen has cracked too many times. Whatever the reason, the result is the same: another device added to the growing mountain of electronic waste.

Each year, the world generates 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste. That’s equal to throwing away 1,000 laptops every single second. But the real problem is that only 17.4% of it is properly recycled. The rest ends up in landfills and pollute the air, soil, and water.

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And the impact doesn’t stop there. E-waste is responsible for 50 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually, further contributing to climate change. This is one of the reasons why you should sell your old electronics.

Meanwhile, valuable materials like gold, silver, and palladium are continuously mined to produce new electronics while damaging ecosystems and depleting natural resources. But when we choose to repair instead of replace, we reduce the demand for new raw materials and reduce waste. This simple action has a massive impact on our wallets and the planet.

How the Right to Repair Supports Sustainability

For years, manufacturers have made it harder for consumers to fix their devices, pushing complete replacements instead of straightforward repairs. This has fueled a throwaway culture where broken gadgets pile up in landfills, and new ones are constantly produced.

The right to repair movement challenges this wasteful cycle. Instead of tossing out devices the moment they break, repair keeps them in more prolonged use and out of waste. Here’s how it contributes to a more sustainable future.

Reduces E-Waste

What happens when electronics are repaired instead of tossed out? Fewer devices end up in landfills. With millions of tonnes of e-waste generated yearly, extending our gadgets’ lifespan significantly reduces pollution. Repairing even a fraction of discarded devices can help slow the global e-waste crisis.

Conserves Resources

Every new phone, laptop, or tablet requires raw materials like gold, silver, and rare earth metals, many mined in environmentally destructive ways. By fixing what we already have, we reduce the demand for new materials, which can help preserve natural resources and minimize the energy-intensive manufacturing process.

Promotes a Circular Economy

A circular economy focuses on keeping products in use for as long as possible rather than constantly producing and discarding them. The right to repair movement aligns with this idea. It ensures that devices are repaired, reused, and refurbished instead of being thrown away to create a more resource-efficient system.

Empowers Consumers

Right-to-repair laws give consumers access to tools, manuals, and spare parts to make fixing their devices easy. This saves money and counters corporate control over products. When people have the power to repair what they own, they can benefit from smart upgrades when they want to but are no longer forced to.

Create Local Jobs

While repairing electronics is good for the environment, it’s also good for the economy. More repair-friendly policies mean more work for local technicians and small repair businesses. Instead of profits flowing to big manufacturers, repair jobs keep money in communities. This creates skilled employment opportunities while reducing waste.

Join the Right to Repair Movement!

The right-to-repair movement goes beyond fixing broken screens and replacing worn-out batteries. Its ultimate motive is to regain control, reduce e-waste, and make smarter choices for the planet.

Every time we choose to repair instead of replace, we resist a throwaway culture that has taken over the global economy. Supporting repair-friendly laws means allowing customers to fix what they own and contributing to a more sustainable future.

But what if your device is beyond repair? Don’t fret; there are plenty of ways to recycle your e-waste responsibly so that harmful materials don’t end up in landfills.

And if you’re looking to sell your old electronics, why not give them a second life? Visit CashForUsedLaptop and turn your old tech into cash.

Join the movement—repair, reuse, and recycle!