Manufacturers are Considering Their Roles in Reuse and Recycling

Manufacturers are Considering Their Roles in Reuse and Recycling 

Consumers’ right to repair has been a long-standing argument in the industry as consumers and professionals argue about whether or not individuals should have the right to repair their own devices. Now, manufacturers are weighing in and considering their roles in the reuse and recycling process. 

New technology is announced annually, and many choose to upgrade devices. This can become costly over time, especially as prices rise and device reuse becomes more appealing. However, as technology ages, more obstacles arise, and repair is inevitable. Some have chosen to repair their devices at home, while others take old or malfunctioning devices to third-party repair shops. 

Big-name manufacturers have been an obstacle, especially Apple, which has been known to withhold information needed for third-party repair shops to repair Apple devices. This prevents consumers from seeking more cost-effective methods of repair and extending the lifespans of older devices. 

Recently, several OEM representatives discussed how manufacturers support this aspect of the industry and how they can better support repair and reuse. Vice president of environmental affairs and industry sustainability at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), Walter Alcorn, and senior director at Samsung Electronics America, Paul Walker, talked about overcoming hurdles on the E-Scrap 2023 panel, Role of Reuse as Tech Evolves, moderated by HOBI’s president Craig Boswell. 

According to Alcorn, as legislation pairs manufacturers with independent repair businesses with “a culture that’s based on some very practical creativity and dealing with what shows up,” it’s causing “a little bit of a culture clash trying to figure out how those marry.” 

“We’ve got a few years of figuring this out, but I think one of the ways that we do that is we just be honest about it, and we have open conversations about where different folks are coming from, different parts of the industry,” Alcorn said. “Hopefully, through dialogues like that, we’ll be able to come to some mutual understanding where we can end up with more repair and more opportunities for consumers, and the consumer will ultimately be protected.” 

When ITAD facilities like HOBI collect retired IT assets, devices that have not yet reached the end of their useful life are often repaired and refurbished for remarketing opportunities. With the price of electronics increasing yearly, remarketing used devices provides an alternative sales channel for those looking to save money on used devices rather than purchasing new ones. 

HOBI is an R2v3, RIOS, and ISO-14001 certified IT asset management and disposition enterprise focused on maximizing economic return and mitigating potential environmental liability. During every disposition step, HOBI focuses on maximizing value for our clients and determining the best disposition path for the environment. 

For more information about HOBI’s remarketing opportunities or our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.