The hottest E-Waste Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Sorry, Davos: e-waste is a tragedy, not an opportunity

Fight to Repair • 138 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment E-Waste Right-to-repair Circular Economy Sustainability Recycling
  1. E-waste is a significant problem globally, causing harm to people and ecological systems through pollution, inhumane extraction of raw materials, and other disasters.
  2. The idea pushed by some, like the World Economic Forum, that e-waste can be seen as a financial opportunity and a way to boost the economy is criticized as overlooking the true impact and complexity of the issue.
  3. Repairing electronics rather than constant disposal is highlighted as a more sustainable solution that could lead to a more resilient community, a reduction in repair costs, and the circulation of money locally.

Colorado Calls For Repair Scores

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Repairability Right-to-repair E-Waste Legislation Consumer behavior
  1. Colorado's legislature passed a resolution calling for a national scoring system for electronic device repairs, aiming to make repairability of products easy to understand when buying electronics.
  2. Repair scores, like the one adopted in France, have been shown to influence consumer behavior and create awareness about repairability options.
  3. Repair scores are part of a broader effort to reduce e-waste and empower consumers by making hidden costs of device purchases more apparent.

Apple Calls for National Repair Law

Fight to Repair • 78 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Tech Policy Consumer Tech Sustainability E-Waste Legislation
  1. Apple is pushing for a national right-to-repair law in the US after California's legislation, aiming to balance repairability with product integrity, usability, and safety.
  2. Apple's announcement reveals a strategic shift to shape the national law and potentially exclude certain aspects by emphasizing safety and privacy concerns.
  3. The tech industry is exploring creating Memorandums of Understanding to navigate right-to-repair laws, aiming to standardize repair practices and influence legislation.

You Can't Be "Green" and Restrict Repair

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability Repairability Corporate Responsibility E-Waste Tech industry
  1. Apple aims for sustainability but restricts repairability, showing a nuanced approach to environmental impact.
  2. Mounting public pressure is pushing companies towards repair-friendly policies despite initial resistance.
  3. Google faces criticism for lack of repair options for Pixel Watches, while offering repair parts for Pixel Fold, highlighting differing approaches to repairability.
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Air-Conditioner Repair in a Warming World

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability E-Waste
  1. Access to air conditioning is crucial for health and safety, especially in marginalized communities during extreme-heat events.
  2. Tenants face challenges when waiting for AC repairs, highlighting the need for stronger regulations to protect renters' rights.
  3. The debate around air conditioning includes ethical considerations, such as its impact on the environment and calls for more sustainable solutions.

Empty Promises of Circularity

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Repair Environmental Impact Corporate Power E-Waste
  1. Overconsumption is pushing Earth Overshoot Day earlier each year, highlighting the urgency to change consumption habits.
  2. Repairing tools like bicycles promotes self-reliance and community, resisting corporate control over repair and parts.
  3. The push towards a circular economy needs careful consideration; ending ownership doesn't automatically address corporate power, and repairability is key to combating 'enshittification'.

More than six billion smartphones on Earth, but who will fix them? Week in Repair

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Repair Right-to-repair Legislation E-Waste
  1. Over 6.92 billion people own smartphones worldwide, making up 86.34% of the population. These devices typically last 2-3 years before adding to the growing e-waste crisis.
  2. Apprenticeships for device repair are crucial to address the demand for repair professionals. Establishing industry standards and training programs can create sustainable careers in tech.
  3. State legislatures are advancing Right to Repair bills for agricultural equipment and electronics, aiming to provide consumers and independent repair shops with parts, tools, and information to fix their devices.

28+ State AGs Urge Federal Right-To-Repair Legislation

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Legislation Electric Vehicles E-Waste
  1. A bipartisan group of over 28 State Attorneys General are urging Congress to pass expansive right-to-repair legislation covering automobiles, electronics, and agricultural equipment.
  2. Proposed bills like the REPAIR Act and SMART Act aim to increase repair options, lower prices, and reduce restrictions on crucial repair parts and information by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
  3. The right-to-repair movement is gaining momentum globally, with other countries and regions also considering legislation to reduce waste, promote repair over buying new, and address issues like e-waste and fast fashion.

Our Picks For The Top Repair Stories of 2022

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 15 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Regulation Repair Sustainability Hardware E-Waste
  1. State-wide laws are crucial for the right to repair movement to succeed, as seen in 2022 with wins in New York and Colorado.
  2. Companies like Apple's self-repair program may offer solutions, but without clear legislation, it can fall short in truly empowering consumers.
  3. Governments are taking steps towards standardization, like the EU mandating USB-C, to reduce electronic waste and increase sustainability.

Cochlear Implant Users Face Grim Future Without Repair or Upgrades

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🏥 Health Politics Medical Devices Right-to-repair E-Waste Cybersecurity Legislation
  1. Cochlear implant users, especially low-income earners, face challenges when their devices become obsolete or in need of repair, potentially leading to loss of hearing if they can't afford upgrades.
  2. Repairing electronics could save Americans $50 billion annually; household could save approximately $382 per year by repairing electronics instead of replacing them.
  3. Tensions between corporate profits and the care of individuals emerge in the realm of medical devices, showing the importance of supporting repair initiatives and community aid over consumption.

Fight to Repair Daily: Friday October 14, 2022

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 14 Oct 22
🌞 Climate & Environment E-Waste Recycling Circular Economy Right-to-repair Technology
  1. International E-waste Day brings attention to the impact of trashing electronics, especially in countries with high e-waste generation.
  2. The need to focus on the pre-consumer stage and the importance of using recycled materials and completing the circular economy in tech.
  3. Efforts are being made to promote repair-friendly practices, such as Framework introducing a refurbished program to reuse consumer waste.

Chromebook Churn could sink school budgets (and the planet)

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Environment Repairability IOT E-Waste
  1. Many school districts rushed to purchase Chromebooks for students during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a potential tsunami of e-waste as these devices near the end of their support life.
  2. Extending the lifespan of Chromebooks could save school districts billions of dollars and help reduce the environmental impact of replacing these devices.
  3. Manufacturers need to make Chromebooks more repairable by offering replacement parts and designing devices that support repairability, which could make repair more economical and sustainable.

Fight to Repair Daily: Monday October 17, 2022

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 18 Oct 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Right-to-repair Agriculture Food Systems E-Waste
  1. The FTC is proposing a new rule that would require major appliances to come with repair instructions, enhancing consumers' right to repair.
  2. A Democratic candidate in Kansas is advocating for a federal right to repair law in the agriculture sector to help farmers save money and time on equipment maintenance.
  3. Maine is moving towards including a 'right to repair' question on the 2023 ballot, aiming to enable vehicle repairs at independent shops or by vehicle owners.

Fight to Repair Daily: Monday October 10 2022

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 10 Oct 22
🕹 Technology Repair E-Waste Legislation Fashion Batteries
  1. Repairing electronics like headphones can be more cost-effective than replacing them, showcasing the importance of the right to repair legislation.
  2. Companies often destroy reusable storage devices like hard drives due to data security concerns, highlighting the need for better waste management practices.
  3. Legislation for right to repair in various industries, such as farm equipment and electronics, is gaining traction in different regions like Quebec and North Carolina.

Repair-Off: 10 Month Old Fitness Tracker vs. 55 Year-Old Radio

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 14 Sep 21
🕹 Technology Repair E-Waste Right-to-repair Manufacturers Product Design
  1. Repair culture for old devices like radios involves accessible resources and manuals for DIY repairs, fostering sustainability and useful life extension.
  2. Modern electronics like FitBits often lack repair options, leading to replacement rather than fixing and contributing to e-waste accumulation.
  3. A right to repair law could empower consumers with access to schematics and parts to preserve electronics, but also necessitates a shift in manufacturer practices towards designing repairable products.

The Week in Repair: Feb 20-27

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 28 Feb 22
🕹 Technology Repair Environmental Legislation Corporate E-Waste
  1. Some John Deere dealerships consolidating, leaving farmers with limited repair options. Right to Repair reforms could offer more choices for farmers.
  2. Apple now offers Face ID repair without replacing whole iPhone, reducing both hassle for technicians and carbon footprint.
  3. Farmers in multiple states advocating for Right to Repair laws to lower repair costs, increase repair options, and maintain self-reliance.

Week in Repair: Jan 11-18

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 20 Jan 22
💼 Business Right-to-repair Legislation Sustainability E-Waste
  1. Farmers are taking legal action against John Deere for breaking federal anti-trust laws.
  2. Consumer advocates push for a 'repair instead of throw away' principle in the EU to reduce electronic waste.
  3. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is challenging the DMCA to protect the 'Right to Repair,' focusing on the free speech aspect of repair restrictions.

Fight to Repair Daily: August 1, 2022

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 01 Aug 22
🕹 Technology Repair E-Waste Batteries Podcast Recycling
  1. Samsung has introduced 'repair mode' for its Galaxy smartphones in South Korea to aid technicians in fixing devices without accessing user data, enhancing customer data security.
  2. The rapid turnover of tech products due to planned obsolescence has led to a surge in electronic waste, urging consumers to consider repairing or upgrading devices before recycling.
  3. Electric vehicle batteries are outlasting cars, leading to delays in recycling programs but also presenting opportunities for second-life use before recycling.

Fight to Repair Daily: August 3, 2022

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 04 Aug 22
🕹 Technology Electronics Repair Legislation E-Waste Standardization
  1. Electronics are designed with hidden 'death dates' and often lack longevity, urging users to demand longer-lasting products.
  2. Samsung and iFixit have collaborated to offer genuine parts and repair programs for Galaxy devices, enabling users to conduct self-repairs.
  3. The Right to Repair legislation, if passed, would require electronics manufacturers to provide repair information to independent repair providers, potentially fostering innovation and sustainability in the industry.

Week in Repair: News Highlights

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 03 Dec 21
🕹 Technology Tech news Right-to-repair Antitrust E-Waste Legislation
  1. Apple is planning to phase out older iPhone models like the iPhone 6 Plus, with a leaked report suggesting a move towards augmented reality devices by 2032.
  2. President Biden's economic advisers believe that the antitrust agenda will lead to economic growth by focusing on local business growth, worker wages, and right-to-repair rules for products like medical devices and tractors.
  3. Regulation may be necessary to tackle built-in obsolescence in printers and address the challenges of ownership as devices transition into services, with right-to-repair laws gaining momentum globally.

Fight to Repair Daily: August 12, 2022

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 12 Aug 22
🕹 Technology Repairability Cybersecurity E-Waste Legislation Manufacturers
  1. Manufacturers often stop supporting older devices to encourage people to upgrade, impacting the lifespan of tech products.
  2. The EU is working on proposals to empower consumers by fighting against greenwashing and planned obsolescence, aiming for more durable goods and the right to repair.
  3. India plans to ban inexpensive Chinese smartphones to boost domestic brands, potentially leading to reduced market variety and changes in consumer choices.