Examining the effectiveness of repair incentives in Australia

Australia ranks among the highest per capita electronic waste (e-waste)-generating countries in the world. Each year, Australians discard significant quantities of electronic devices, many of which end up in landfill. One notable approach to reducing e-waste is promoting repair to extend product lifespans to reduce the quantity of products going to landfill. Many jurisdictions have already addressed repair barriers through regulations that improve extended producer responsibility, design and parts availability, while providing repair incentives to encourage individuals and businesses to choose repair over replacement. This article examines the effectiveness of repair incentives in promoting a repair culture to reduce e-waste. It analyses how various European Union countries have implemented repair incentives and assesses the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches to determine whether the lessons can be applied to Australia. Insights from e-waste generation and crowd-sourced repair data, combined with reviewing policy and e-waste generation trends, are used to assess the broader environmental and economic benefits of repair. With Australia yet to begin removing key barriers to repair, this article aims to inform Australian policymakers of the merits of repair incentive initiatives in helping Australia meet its obligations under the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.