Repairing rather than throwaways

[razz]

I did think of adding this to the thread on plastic but this is different enough to stand on its own, IMO.

From BBC:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210128-right-to-repair-how-the-french-are-fighting-avoidable-waste
France is making right to repair legislation and repair cafes more popular. It will be interesting to see how widely this approach spreads over the next few years. I would love to use my iPhone and Macbook Air without concern of built-in obsolescence.

"The French capital hosts a dozen of these so-called "repair cafes" – free, monthly initiatives that allow local residents to fix household objects and electronics with the help and advice of enthusiastic volunteers. Pioneered by journalist Martine Postma in Amsterdam in 2009, hundreds of similar workshops take place across Europe...

But significant amounts of that waste could be avoided through repairs. According to a study by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency, only 40% of electronics breakdowns in France are repaired. But surveys have found nearly two-thirds of Europeans would rather repair their products than buy new ones. Much like Imene's kitchen scales, French officials believe the current system is broken and needs to be fixed...


In an effort to defuse this vast amount of avoidable waste, France's National Assembly last year voted to introduce an index of "repairability" ratings for appliances such as washing machines, lawnmowers, televisions and smartphones. In doing so, the French government hopes to increase the electronics repair rate to 60% within five years...

Preliminary studies suggest the rise of repairs could have a huge impact. Analysis by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), a network of environmental citizens' organisations in Europe, found that extending the lifetime of all washing machines, notebooks, vacuum cleaners and smartphones in the EU by one year would save four million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2030 – the equivalent of taking two million cars off the roads each year.

For those in the grassroots cafes of Paris, however, the reality of repairs is another world entirely. Lively chatter, the scent of fresh pastries and the clank of tools fill the room, with around a dozen of the repair stations occupied by participants.

"They told me this couldn't be fixed," says Caroline, a local resident, waving a form from a manufacturer stating that her 20-year-old sewing machine is irreparable. "But we've identified the problem in a matter of minutes. Things work best when we take matters into our own hands."

[JaneV2.0]

Wonderful trend; doubt manufacturers will be onboard. Planned obsolescence, don't you know.

[Teacher Terry]

I would definitely rather repair my electronics.

[catherine]

Genius idea! We have taken advantage of similar "repair cafes" but they look like this: we tell our electrician neighbor or our roofer neighbor or our carpenter neighbor that we're going to pay someone to come and fix our roof/camper/light switch, and THEY say, "Don't do that!! I'll help you!" and they come and guide us through the repair and at night we provide some liquor and a good campfire and everyone's happy!

But if you don't have the right mix of "volunteers" to give you the education you need, I think a repair cafe is a wonderful idea.

[Tybee]

I just sleuthed around for 2 days on the internet and repaired my washing machine last night.
I had ordered a part which I did not even need. I went to return it and Amazon did a returnless refund, which means I got my 10 dollars back and I can keep the part, in case I do need it in the future.

We always buy the simplest washing machines and stoves so we can repair them ourselves. We repaired our stove in Michigan twice and our dryer once. The dryer is 10 years old.

Not sure how old this washing machine is because it came with house, but we really like it when it works. We went to look at a used one on Craigslist while this one was broken, and it was older, smaller and not nearly as nice, the guy wanted a hundred dollars, and he had not used it in two years, so who knows if it would work anyway?

On the other hand, we are trying to look on Craigslist or Habitat for a new stove since the one that came with house looks pretty awful.

[early morning]

One reason I dislike electronic controls on household machines (washer/dryer/dishwasher etc). Mechanical things are much easier to fix instead of replace. And around here, the small repair shops are all gone.

[Yppej]

Today I stapled together a couple pillows that had the stuffing starting to come out.

[iris lilies]

This is a great idea. So many European items, before the made in China craze, are well worth repairing.

[iris lilies]

One reason I dislike electronic controls on household machines (washer/dryer/dishwasher etc). Mechanical things are much easier to fix instead of replace. And around here, the small repair shops are all gone.
Agree, electronic controls are the devil incarnate.

Our neighbor in Hermann has just opened a small engine repair shop. The previous one went out of business two years ago. So I hope he does well.

I bought a refurbished handmixer a couple months ago but the package thieves got to it before I did. I do plan to buy another one though.

[frugal-one]

A few years ago (maybe 5?) my DS in Minneapolis did an apprenticeship with a small company that repaired old electronics. He said he learned a lot and has helped him fix many things currently. We also try to buy things that do not have as many "gadgets" so, if possible, we can repair it. I hate shopping and am usually happy with what I have. I do not need new.

[frugal-one]

Agree, electron it controls are the devil incarnate.

Our neighbor in Hermann has just opened a small engine repair shop. The previous one went out of business two years ago. So I hope he does well.

I bought a refurbished handmixer a couple months ago but the package thieves got to it before I did. I do plan to buy another one though.

I usually buy them at garage sales. DH ruined the one we had and I had to go buy a new one. I would have had one in reserve but we didn't/couldn't go garage sailing this summer. I will look for a better one at a garage sale this coming summer. The new stuff is junk.

[Gardnr]

I would definitely rather repair my electronics.

Hubster repaired our Bush stimulus Television (yes we spent it all on a flat screen), with a $4 part. We were told the TV was dead. Fortunately he's an IT person and understands taking apart computer based items and putzing with parts. It still works great. That was back in? 2008

[pinkytoe]

The public libraries in both cities I have lived in offered "repair workshops" for various items.

[SteveinMN]

Various city/county organizations here offer repair clinics similar to the ones mentioned -- usually the guy in the neighborhood who could make any tool out of a couple of empty pop cans and a few rivets that he's had hanging around in his workshop since 2004 and the gal who could create a formal gown using some stained flour sack towels and a knitting needle.

I kid. Seriously, you bring your item and someone who's got some basic tools and an inclination for remembering how things come apart takes a look to see if it's something obvious. It often comes down to a part that needs to be ordered, so it may not be possible to repair it on the spot, but it's a good start and seeing how it comes apart sometimes emboldens the owner to order the part and take on the repair himself or herself. Or they can wait for the next clinic.

Folks here might be interested in an organization called The Repair Association (https://www.repair.org/stand-up/) . They're geared primarily toward manufacturers and corporate customers, but individuals can find information of value there. It's an organization working to help keep items repairable from both mechanical/electronic and legal aspects.

[ToomuchStuff]

I did think of adding this to the thread on plastic but this is different enough to stand on its own, IMO.

From BBC:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210128-right-to-repair-how-the-french-are-fighting-avoidable-waste
France is making right to repair legislation and repair cafes more popular. It will be interesting to see how widely this approach spreads over the next few years. I would love to use my iPhone and Macbook Air without concern of built-in obsolescence.


The issues with the IPhone and Macbook Air, that still cause obsolescence issues, is software. Hardware wise, there is a fight here, with repairers, getting kicked off manufacturers forums, for saying things can be fixed. (can find them on Youtube)
This is one reason why I prefer Open source software. It allows me to use electronics for much longer.


Hubster repaired our Bush stimulus Television (yes we spent it all on a flat screen), with a $4 part. We were told the TV was dead. Fortunately he's an IT person and understands taking apart computer based items and putzing with parts. It still works great. That was back in? 2008

One of the TV's I inherited from late boss, was brand new. Yet it seems to have an issue. I did look on Youtube, and may have fixed it, if not, the part is $7 online, and cheaper then trying to box it up and ship it to the warranty repair place.
The other, had no remote, which I found a factory replacement, online, for $6.50.
When my washer and dryer died, after I bought my first house, they were close to 40 years old. Since so many parts places closed, and the internet wasn't big then, I bought new. Now, those are 20ish years old and since I am buying his house, I decided to buy new, rather then try to move the older ones. Ordered this week from Costco, and delivered and installed today.
I miss the mechanical simplicity, rather then multimeter use and microsoldering.

[beckyliz]

If you have Netflix, check out The Repair Shop. It's from BBC and it's about a repair shop in a national park. Folks bring family heirlooms of all sorts that need to be repaired. These folks work miracles. I just love to watch it.