Right to Repair Bill Introduced in Washington State
Technology consumers face a growing dilemma when their pricey devices inevitably stop working: should they try to fix it, or throw it away and purchase a new one? Obviously, repairing said device is better for the environment, and it would seem repair should be better for your wallet too. Unfortunately, manufacturers have made it difficult for consumers to get their devices fixed by qualified third party repair shops, leaving them with no choice but to pay the original manufacturer’s steep repair costs (all while being left to manage without a working device). For a little more money, consumers can just purchase a new device, which is ideal for the tech manufacturers (and no one else). These restrictive repair practices prey on consumers’ reliance on technology and have created a cycle of waste globally. This is why we need ‘Right to Repair’ laws.
On January 20, 2021, HB1212, known as the Right to Repair bill, was introduced to the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business in Washington State. If enacted, electronic manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft will be required to provide fair and reasonable access to parts, tools, and other materials that are critical for repair.
Most manufacturers have restricted access to the replacement parts and tools required to repair their devices, which makes fixing them difficult and costly. When consumers are able to affordably repair their electronics, they are more likely to use their devices for longer–saving them money, enabling job creation in the circular economy, and reducing electronic waste.
Last month, supporters of HB1212 provided statements to the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business expressing the need for Right to Repair Laws. InterConnection founder, Charles Brennick (currently representing 3R Technology), was among the first to speak on behalf of HB1212. In his testimony, he noted the increase in requests for affordable technology that he has received over the last year; “I’ve never seen the demand for affordable technology so high. I get requests from students and low-income [people] every day for computers…. any legislation that facilitates reuse would be helpful.” Brennick goes on to point out additional difficulties refurbishers face due to lack of repair documentation, “the trend among manufactures to make computers more compact and parts more fused together with no documentation…. not only makes it harder to refurbish computers for those who need them, but it’s also physically dangerous for the people doing the refurbishment work…. if we had more support from the manufacturers, tools and documentation.… [many] dangerous situations would be avoided. For this reason and many others I am Pro House Bill 1212 and I hope it passes.”
Sally Wolf, President of the Board of Zero Waste Washington, also commented in support of HB1212. She stated that, “The number one reason we support this bill is because it will reduce trash. This bill is just common sense for so many reasons, but especially because it supports small business and this year, more than ever, we’re aware of how important small businesses are in our lives.” Wolf further explains that, “If every Washington resident kept their phone for one more year before getting a new one, that would be the greenhouse gas equivalent of taking 14 thousand cars off the road. Why do we buy new phones or computers? Often because the battery power is reduced, or the screens are scratched or cracked, but not because we really need a new one. Knowing how to get these items repaired is confusing and often just not possible…. the impact on natural resources of buying a new phone is high, while repairing a phone or computer uses very little resources and puts next to nothing in the trash…. There is no reason why we should not allow skilled people like the great workers at repair shops all over the state to fix the things we rely on to make our lives go better…. I strongly encourage you to support House Bill 1212.’’
Lastly, Amber Schmidt, Manager of Technology Refurbishment at Free Geek, provided sobering data surrounding the digital divide in the Pacific Northwest in her testimony supporting HB1212. “COVID-19 has brought this issue of the digital divide to the forefront of everybody’s minds…. We’ve seen an exponential increase in request for devices over the last year. Just two of our programs have over 1,100 people on the wait list waiting for computers. These applications are outstanding because [of] lack of supply of repairable devices and lack of parts to repair those devices. The passage of this bill would enable us to access the tools, parts, and schematics so that we do not have to wait weeks for a specialized screwdriver to come in, or we don’t have to reverse engineer a laptop to figure out how to fix it. Census data shows that nearly 10% of Washingtonians do not have a computer in their home. Pass this bill, and we will be able to fix more devices [and] we’ll provide more opportunities for helping people…. we’ll make a dent in the thousand people on our wait list for computers, as well as the 700,000 people in Washington that don’t have access, so that they can Zoom into committee meetings like this.”
As a nonprofit refurbisher working to Bridge the Digital Divide, InterConnection supports the Right to Repair. We believe that independent repair shops offer reliable and affordable services that low income consumers rely on to stay connected to our digital society. HB1212 is a common sense solution to connecting people to affordable technology, enabling job creation in the circular economy, and reducing electronic waste.
Please ask Washington State Representatives to support HB1212 so nonprofit refurbishers, like InterConnection, can continue distributing devices to those in need.
Find your representative here.