Oregon recently passed one of the strongest right-to-repair laws in the country. This will make it easier and cheaper for Oregonians to repair phones, computers, appliances, and other electronic devices.
The right-to-repair bill ensures parts, manuals, and diagnostic tools are readily available to the public and repair businesses.
What is right-to-repair?
It means that when you buy an item, you should have the right to modify and repair it as you see fit (repair.org).
Right-to-repair laws, like Oregon’s SB 542, have been created as a response to large electronics companies making it increasingly difficult for consumers to seek independent repair of their items. Consumers fear the threat of voided warranties or error messages from using non-name brand part replacements.
Easy-to-repair electronics is a win for consumers and small businesses
Oregon’s right-to-repair bill makes it easier for small repair businesses to fix electronics – which lowers the cost of repair for consumers.
Ben Bolokhovskiy, CEO of local electronics repair shop Fixoid, notes that “repair shops tend to be cheaper, even if you have repair coverage from a phone provider. If you pay for your provider’s repair coverage at $9/month times 12 months, with a $200 deductible, costs can add up.”
At Fixoid locations, customers could expect to pay a fraction of the price for a one-time screen crack replacement on most cell phones.
Repair is the greenest option
Extending the life of our electronics through repair has big environmental benefits. For every item that doesn’t have to be purchased new, you’ve saved the energy and natural resources needed to manufacture it – as well as the carbon emissions from extracting raw materials, turning them into new products, and transporting them to stores.
More affordable electronics expand access
Alonso Melendez, a Digital Equity Coordinator at the City of Portland, says right-to-repair is a win for digital equity.
He describes digital equity as “people having access to all the tools they need and the training to participate in our digital economy.”
Access to a computer or smartphone is often necessary to apply for jobs, pay bills, and interact with the world. But the high cost of purchasing and maintaining electronics can be a barrier to that access.
Melendez emphasized repair access “keeps low-income communities going, so they can get ahead and avoid the costs of buying a new device.”
Learn how to fix your electronics – or get them fixed by someone else
These Portland non-profits and businesses promote electronics repair and repair skill sharing:
Repair PDX organizes Repair Cafés where volunteers fix broken household items for free. They also offer repair education and workshops to help people fix their own items.
Free Geek offers refurbished laptops, tablets, and phones through their online store. They accept donations of computers, laptops, and other technology.
Fixoid is a repair business with locations in Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle. It offers affordable repair of electronic devices like cell phones, computers, tablets, and game systems. In certain instances, Fixoid offers price matching and price cuts for repair quotes from larger companies.
When you can’t repair, recycle responsibly
Electronics should never go in your trash or recycling bins. Here’s why:
Electronics’ built-in batteries can get crushed in the disposal process, sparking or exploding and causing fires that endanger workers and can cause millions of dollars in damage.
Some electronics have harmful materials like lead and mercury that must be handled safely and disposed of properly to keep them out of our air, soil, and water.
Thankfully, in Oregon, it’s free and easy to safely recycle TVs, computers, laptops, printers, monitors, and tablets at designated drop-off locations.
You can take devices to Metro Central transfer station and other organizations or businesses like Free Geek and Best Buy for free recycling.
Or search Find a Recycler. If you can’t find your item in the search tool or would rather talk with someone, call Metro’s Recycling Information Center at 503-234-3000 Monday through Friday, 8:30-5 p.m., or submit a question online.