The Right to Repair movement continues to spread, with all 50 states having at least introduced repair legislation. Nebraska and Washington recently signed e-scrap bills into law, which gave Washington residents the right to repair consumer electronics and Nebraskans an EPR program for batteries. The right to repair has been a longstanding battle between consumers and third-party repair shops and major OEMs, but continues to make significant progress, even amongst OEMs who initially lobbied against the movement.
Nebraska LB 36
As the state’s first attempt at EPR legislation, the Safe Battery Collection and Recycling Act, or LB 36, enacts a battery landfilling ban rather than setting recycling targets, and will go into effect Jan. 1, 2028. This will also be the deadline for producers and retailers to join a battery stewardship organization, and all batteries must be marked with their chemistry and an “indication that the battery should not be disposed of as household waste” by 2029.
Executive Director of the Nebraska Recycling Council, Kim Carrol Steward, considers the bill’s passage a “major win for safety, economic, and environmental protection in Nebraska.” She added, “By improving the way we manage and dispose of lithium batteries, this legislation will help prevent fires, protect Nebraskans, and increase diversion from our landfills. It’s a smart, forward-thinking step toward a safer, cleaner future for our communities.”
Washington HB 1483
In Washington, HB 1483 aims to “broaden access to the information and tools necessary to repair digital electronic products, including computers, cell phones, appliances, and other nonexempted products in a safe, secure, reliable, and sustainable manner, thereby increasing access to appropriate and affordable digital electronic products, supporting small businesses and jobs, and making it easier for all residents of Washington state to connect digitally,” according to the text. The law also has a section requiring repair providers to provide certain information to customers before products for repair, including safety steps for data and privacy rights under various state laws.
“I’m proud that we’re moving forward on an innovation even more critical than a new gadget: the right to fix our electronic devices,” said Charlie Fisher, senior advisor with WashPIRG. “By eliminating manufacturer restrictions, the Right to Repair will make it easier for Washingtonians to keep their electronics running. That will conserve precious natural resources and prevent waste.”
ITAD Enterprises Offer Repair & Remarketing Services
The right to repair is an important step for device reuse. Repairing used IT assets and consumer electronics enables them to be remarketed for reuse, supporting a circular economy and helping to eliminate e-waste. ITAD providers like HOBI offer end-of-use services for retired IT assets and value-added services, including repair and remarketing opportunities. Mobile devices are in high demand, but prices are becoming a roadblock for many. HOBI leverages our extensive knowledge and skills to help close the loop on the circular economy by repurposing used IT assets.
For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.