I kind of wonder if we're looking at solving this the wrong way. Instead of mandating that manufacturers take specific steps to fix the waste problem, maybe it would be better to tag items at manufacture and charge device makers a percentage based on how long before it enters the waste stream.
Manufacturers could solve this by either:
- Making their things easy to repair
- Creating in house recycling programs
- Making equipment more durable and longer lasting
Any combination of the above. By picking one specific way of reducing waste, we are ignoring other factors. Few people care to repair Android phones because you can't upgrade the OS after 2 years regardless. It doesn't matter if the hardware is repairable, the device is greatly devalued at that point. Like wise, if it's super expensive to repair an iPhone, people aren't going to bother and will just replace it.
By focusing on the end result -> Devices entering the waste stream <- the manufacturers are responsible for ensuring hardware gets responsibly recycled, repaired, or just doesn't break. Obviously, to make this work the cost per device entering the stream would have to be significant compared to the cost of the device.
Also, the cost should be the responsibility of the maker. Currently in some place in the US, consumers pay the cost to dispose of/ recycle televisions. The result is we end up with TVs on the side of the road. Often on the way away from the dump where people refuse to pay the disposal fee then toss the TV out the door on the way home.
Manufacturers could solve this by either:
- Making their things easy to repair
- Creating in house recycling programs
- Making equipment more durable and longer lasting
Any combination of the above. By picking one specific way of reducing waste, we are ignoring other factors. Few people care to repair Android phones because you can't upgrade the OS after 2 years regardless. It doesn't matter if the hardware is repairable, the device is greatly devalued at that point. Like wise, if it's super expensive to repair an iPhone, people aren't going to bother and will just replace it.
By focusing on the end result -> Devices entering the waste stream <- the manufacturers are responsible for ensuring hardware gets responsibly recycled, repaired, or just doesn't break. Obviously, to make this work the cost per device entering the stream would have to be significant compared to the cost of the device.
Also, the cost should be the responsibility of the maker. Currently in some place in the US, consumers pay the cost to dispose of/ recycle televisions. The result is we end up with TVs on the side of the road. Often on the way away from the dump where people refuse to pay the disposal fee then toss the TV out the door on the way home.