Right to Repair for Pennsylvania

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. Pennsylvania residents dispose of some 15,200 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 Pennsylvania families nearly $2 billion every year.

It’s time for Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania to act.

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have been debating Right to Repair the last couple years, and have started moving ahead. Most recently, bipartisan legislation brought forward by Rep. Kyle Mullins (D) and Sen. Daniel Laughlin (R), HB 1512 and SB 833, which would require manufacturers of most electronics and appliances to provide access to parts, tools and information needed to repair those devices. The bill recently passed it’s committee with bipartisan support, but opposition from manufacturers has been growing. 

Together we can win Right to Repair for Pennsylvania

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 PennPIRG today. Your membership gives us the resources and backing we need to win this campaign. 

Together we can make sure Pennsylvanians can fix our stuff. 

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