The Digital Product Repair Act
Contributed by Dyani Chapman
We’ve all heard it, they don’t make them like they used to. My grandparents had the same refrigerator for 50 years. We used to actually fix stuff. Everything is junk after a few years now. It’s a real problem. Things aren’t being designed to last, and repair is being severely restricted. Right to Repair legislation is one of the steps to wasting less and being able to once again rely on our local communities for repair.
What is the Right to Repair? Manufacturers of everything from phones and laptops to dishwashers and tractors limit or monopolize repair of their products. They withhold spare parts, unique tools and schematics. A survey found that only seven out of 50 common appliance manufacturers made service manuals available. Some manufacturers forgo the time-tested Phillips-head or flat-head screw for a unique shape incompatible with standard tools. Others design devices that need software to detect problems and only provide that software to dealers. Sometimes, devices are virtually locked if repaired outside authorized channels. Even worse, manufacturers glue batteries and parts together, so disassembly for repair has a high chance of breaking a device.
These limits on repair are bad for consumers. People like being able to fix the stuff they own and to patronize local businesses rather than rely on companies that are not in Alaska and charge high costs. When good repair options aren’t available, we are pushed toward throwing electronics away and purchasing new ones, feeding the global supply chain. One report found the average family could save $382 per year with better repair access.
These limits are also bad for the environment. Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world and is responsible for 70% of the toxic materials in the waste stream, including lead, mercury, and other substances known to cause cancer, reduce fertility, and cause developmental problems. In rural Alaska, this is especially concerning because most landfills are unlined and many burn trash. It is estimated that less than 15% of electronics are successfully recycled because the process is difficult and hazardous.
The Right to Repair movement aims to ensure that individuals and independent repair shops can access the tools, parts, and information needed to fix our devices. In Alaska, the legislature is considering the Digital Product Repair Act, SB 111 and HB 162, which would require manufacturers to make parts, tools, and schematics available to individuals and independent businesses so repairs can be done locally.
We are not the first state to address repair restrictions. States from Texas to California have passed similar laws, but Alaska’s would cover a broader range of devices. Access to authorized repair providers is limited, even in larger cities, so the ability to repair equipment locally is especially important. At the national level, Congress is discussing Right to Repair for the military, and the EPA is working to address misconceptions. Companies including Apple and John Deere are making concessions and expanding repair access.
For the sake of our pocketbooks and the environment, we need to regain access to repair and rebuild a culture of repair. You can help by asking your state legislators to support SB 111 and HB 162 and by choosing repair over replacement when possible.