Oregonians now have a ‘Right to Repair’

Have you ever purchased a new electronic appliance, only to have it fail just a few months or years after purchase? This can be very frustrating, but it’s also how our economic system is designed.

The more products break, the more products consumers have to buy — and the more companies profit. There is actually a term for this practice: planned obsolescence. Adding insult to injury is the historic inability to repair these faulty items, meaning we — consumers — must fork out more cash for another new item that will break again soon after purchase.

Well, good news, fellow Oregonians. The state’s new Right to Repair law was enacted on Jan. 1. The law requires manufacturers to provide parts, tools, information and software access to repair most electronic devices made after 2015.

It even goes further by banning “parts pairing,” a practice that prevents independent repair. This law will help save consumers money, and slow down one of the fast-growing waste streams: e-waste.

Visit FixItLaneCounty.org and search the site’s “Repair Stories” section to find an Oregon State Public Interest Research Group guide on what the law means for you. The site also includes a listing of local repair businesses and a calendar of Fix-It Fair events.

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Daniel Hiestand has been the Lane County Waste Reduction Outreach Coordinator since 2022. Waste Wise Lane County empowers residents, schools and businesses with resources to reduce waste and live sustainably.

Follow us online: Facebook.com/WasteWiseLaneCounty