We all get frustrated with electrical products that break too easily. And this has consequences: The UK is the second highest producer of electrical waste per person, and throws away roughly 300,000 tonnes each year. We currently have very limited “Right to Repair” legislation since 2021. We need a much more significant shift away from our throwaway economy but for consumers and businesses, there are still huge barriers to repair:
- The cost of repair is often as high as buying new.
- It’s too hard to establish where and how items can be repaired.
- One-click purchasing and next-day delivery are incredibly convenient, whilst repair takes time.
- Why would you choose a repaired used product over the newest model?
- There is no guarantee that your item is repairable. Putting effort and money into repair that might not work is a risk.
At this session we explored the complex issue of waste reduction through the lens of “Right to Repair”. Joined by a fantastic line-up of speakers (Fiona Dear – Restart Project, Rachel Singer – ReLondon and Clare Seek– Share Portsmouth), we explored the following:
- Where can funding make the biggest difference?
- How do you create a repair café? Who uses them? What is their impact? Beyond waste reduction, what role can repair cafes play within the community?
- How do repair vouchers support the repair economy?
- What support exists at a city, regional and national level to support this work?
- What does the “Right to Repair” mean in practice, what further policy changes are needed to cut waste, and what are the opportunities with the Circular Economy Strategy?
- How can the great work being carried out by repair cafes be amplified and scaled?
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