2023-05-28 16:25:33
You know it: the smartphone camera suddenly stops working properly or the TV screen has a crack. Intuitively, many people today would just give up the device, throw it away and get a brand new replacement.
However, such a thought is not particularly sustainable and encourages wasteful behavior – bad for the environment. However, a new law from the US state of Minnesota is now trying to counteract this intuition.
Consumers and third-party companies that specialize in repairs will have a “right to repair” from July 1, 2024. Governor Tim Walz of the Democrats has signed the bill.
From then on, manufacturers of electronic devices will be obliged to release necessary spare parts and tools for sale. The law covers all electronic equipment purchased on or after July 1, 2021.
Opinion poll
What do you do with damaged electronic devices?
Throw it away and buy a new one right away!
Try everything possible to fix it.
Farm equipment, medical devices, game consoles and motor vehicles are exempt from the regulation. Nevertheless, the law is considered a milestone compared to a similar project from New York.
This was heavily weakened before it was adopted. For example, it was not clear whether equipment purchased prior to approval would be covered.
In a statement, Nathan Proctor, leader of the Public Interest Research Group’s (PIRG) “right to repair” initiative, said: “This is the biggest win for ‘right to repair’ ever.”
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#state #Minnesota #grants #repair