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E-Waste tax based on repair-ability

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(+6)
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We need to push to make sure that manufacture standardize as much as possible common items like batteries.

E.g. Vacuum cleaners being thrown out simply because batteries are so hard to find, or requires some special IC chip to be reset to replace the batteries.

This is leading to perfectly working vacuum cleaners being thrown in the trash for no good reason.

One method I propose is a 3 tier taxing based on varying level of standardized parts availability.

1. Max ewaste tax on parts that has absolutely no repair parts available.

2. Medium ewaste tax on parts that while not standardized... whoes parts and repair instructions is made available for a reasonable lifetime of the product.

3. Minimum/No ewaste tax on items that has off the self parts and is very easy for the user to repair without a specialist.

You can use the ewaste tax to subsidize the cost of throwing these stuff into the landfill.

Why is this especially important? Well for start, china is not accepting any more of our trash... so its going to get harder to deal with this very very soon.

mofosyne, Mar 19 2019

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       I'm all in favour of repairability. Electric toothbrushes are another item that's discarded when the rechargeable but non-replaceable battery dies.   

       Someone should set up a chain of "We Fix Anything" shops that will repair electrical and electronic goods. Such shops would:   

       (1) Accept discarded items, repairing and reselling those that were repairable
(2) Repair items for only the cost of the parts, claiming a subsidy from government for waste reduction
(3) Dispose properly of any irreparable items.
MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 19 2019
  

       Would those then outcompete the current phone repair shops, due to having lower prices for repair jobs?
notexactly, Mar 19 2019
  

       Phone repair is a bit different, in that there are lots of places that do it. But things like toasters, vacuum cleaners...
MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 19 2019
  

       Our beautiful bulbous chrome 1940s toaster lost a leg, we took it into a small appliance repair shop, they immediately went out of business, and we never heard that amazing hearty 'Ker-Pop!' again. The dog and the boy used to wait patiently for the toast to be launched into the air, following its graceful arc to snag one slice each. Good times. Retro bun [+]
Sgt Teacup, Mar 19 2019
  

       One of the many joys of my life is discovering that you can find any replacement part for anything on the internet.
MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 19 2019
  

       It would be a big break for the environment if we shifted focus from manufacturing to service and repair when trying to employ people. A great deal of what's wrong with modern civilization has to do with everyone wanting to make money off machines that can crank out a ton of useless shit all day long.
Size_Mick, Mar 20 2019
  
      
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