EU unveils ‘right to repair’ rules to cut tech waste
The EU’s executive arm proposed new rules on Wednesday that would force manufacturers to allow customers to have broken products repaired, in a bid to cut the number thrown out.
The EU estimates that the number of viable products, such as dishwashers, televisions and mobile phones, binned prematurely in the bloc each year result in 35 million tonnes of waste.
Buying replacements costs consumers 12 billion euros annually.
Under the proposals — part of Brussels’ ambitious green push — manufacturers will have to repair goods still under guarantee if that costs the same or less than a replacement.
