Right to Repair for North Carolina

It used to be that when you bought an appliance or other electronic device, it came with a manual and readily-available replacement parts, so you could repair it easily or hire someone local to fix it. These days, it’s not as simple. 

Manufacturers have created barriers to repair that force you to only use their “authorized” repair services or, worse, buy a new product because you can’t fix your old one.

What happens when we can’t fix something? 

When we can’t fix things, they end up as waste — and electric waste is becoming a serious problem. North Carolina residents dispose of some 12,100 cell phones each day. Junked electronics are often shredded, creating toxic pollution. 

Continuing to extract, produce and consume electronics at this rate is not sustainable — especially when you consider this same production, consumption, disposal cycle is playing out in everything from tablets to toasters, and from drones to dishwashers. 

Just let us fix our stuff 

Nobody walks into a store and thinks, “I’d like to buy something that can’t be fixed.” Yet more often than not, consumers are forced to do just that. Some devices and appliances on the market are designed to be so difficult to fix that they become essentially disposable once they start to malfunction. Or the manufacturer restricts repair such that consumers have to use their branded repair centers, or force unnecessary upgrades and replacements.

The solution is to make sure we have the option to repair things on our own terms, by requiring manufacturers to make the parts, tools and manuals they use available to product owners and independent repair shops. 

With more repair, we can keep electronics in use instead of piling up in landfills. And by requiring manufacturers share the parts, tools and schematics it encourages them to design products that are easier to repair in the first place. Not only that, but the option to repair rather than buying new would also save North Carolina families nearly $1.6 billion every year.

Repair makes us more resilient, too. When Hurricane Helene blocked roads and shut off power, local community repair groups helped the recovery by keeping equipment and generators working. 

It’s time for North Carolina lawmakers to take action 

Ten states have passed Right to Repair legislation, and it has been introduced in every state. With the e-waste problem only continuing to grow, it’s time for North Carolina to act.

Lawmakers in North Carolina have been debating Right to Repair for years. Most recently, legislation brought forward by Rep. Dante Pittman (HB 938), which would require manufacturers of a broad range of electronic equipment to provide access to parts, tools and information needed to repair those devices. 

However, without enough public support, this legislation has been stalled. 

Together we can win Right to Repair for North Carolina 

To ensure we can pass this legislation, we are organizing across the state to build support. We’re working to educate the public, using research to mobilize the media and elected officials and build a strong coalition of repair shops, tinkerers, makers, engineers, and consumer and environmental advocates. 

If you aren’t already a member, join NCPIRG today. Your membership gives us the resources and backing we need to win this campaign. =

Together we can make sure North Carolinians can fix our stuff. 

We are working on getting the word out to the public. You can find our latest statements on our Right to Repair news page