Big tech's Superficial Support Undermines Right-to-Repair Movement
Is a better system possible?
IFixIT / Taylor Dixon. While most major manufacturers aren't taking adequate measures to properly protect the rights of repair, some insiders make some money. Framework has created a laptop which can be easily replaced by its parts. In all cases, the framework aims at achieving this without compromising system performance. The company just released a new motherboard update. Valve, the world-leading PC gaming company but relatively new to hardware, offers repair kits for Steamdecks. Then there's the Fairphone. This device not only has a variety of interchangeable components and provides excellent material quality.
The world's e-waste problem
The human body produces over 63 billion pounds of e-waste each year and only 17% is collected. Between 2015 / 2020 the rate on electronic waste was 21% a decade and will rise to 45% annually by 2020 / 2022. While e-waste constitutes just 5% of the total waste, it constitutes 75% of total toxins. A large number is transported into developing countries. Poorly processed goods expose workers directly to dangerous toxic metals. Around 50,000 people work for e-waste recycling. 83% have long-term illnesses like asthma and cancer. 15% died due to working in industry.
Current state of affairs
Apple's repair program is now underway. The company had previously acted as an antagonist to reparations rights. Immediately, Samsung followed suit and offered officially manufactured OEM parts to sell. All of it is OK, but neither of them is perfect. Samsung repair programs increase battery replacement costs by connecting an iPad to the battery, however Apple repair programs do not provide replacement connectors and ports. It's one of Louis Ross's biggest critics who has fought for legal recourse and for the right of restitution since his retirement.
Consequences of this consumerism
Piles of old phones and tablets are now leaving harmful substances at waste disposals worldwide. When they're ready to burn, they create cloudy air toxins that threaten people in developing countries. Lucky for us, a right to repair has been created. By limiting device disposal time consumers can cut the number of times a product is used and reused responsibly.
An image of electronic waste, includes old computers keyboards lamps and more.