As unorthodox as it may sound, it is often more common in America to replace a broken item rather than to fix it.
The act of discarding broken items instead of having them fixed occurs partially from having an excess of products that are made inexpensively, and also because of the power that advertising tends to have on consumer purchasing habits.
Fortunately, making an effort to repair consumer goods rather than disposing of them can dramatically help to shift our society.
Repair is Greener than Replacement
Choosing to discard items that may be damaged instead of having them repaired is cumulatively contributing to a throwaway society and harming our planet.
Since the cost of a product does not account for the expense of environmental harm, convenience, and low costs can make buying new more appealing instead of making the choice to repair.
However, many objects that people utilize every day has some degree of negative impact on the environment through the extraction of fossil fuels, logging, mining, manufacturing, moving merchandise, and waste disposal.
This is even greater cause for concern since the resources and land that Earth has is limited, and consumers willingly give manufacturers their consent to support this vicious cycle. Every time something breaks, people can make the choice to either conserve the planet’s decreasing resources or to be a contributor to the waste.
Anyone Can Contribute to the Repair Movement
The prerequisite for being a part of the repair movement is simple: it is willing to have items repaired rather than discarding them immediately. Especially in the case of larger appliances, the appliance repair may be covered under a warranty and the repair cost may be free.
Manufacturing companies work hard to keep buyers hooked while consumers want to be gratified instantly with new products. If a pair of tennis shoes breaks, waiting a week for the cobbler could mean being out of the gym for a week, and most consumers probably just don’t want to wait that long.
A shift in consumer mindset may be all that needs to occur when items can be fixed. Repair skills are usually fairly simple to learn, and there are numerous professionals who are available to make repairs.
“Performing easy routine maintenance may be the difference between an item being repairable or worn-out, and following manufacturer recommendations can prolong the life of most appliances,” stated Steve Lewis, president, and CEO of Ambient Edge, a business built solely on the concept of repairing broken appliances.
There are countless instructional guides and videos available online that can teach consumers how to repair many different items and replace broken parts. Professionals can fix garage door openers, shoes, smartphone displays, and faucets that leak.
More consumers must be concerned for the environment and should begin acting accordingly. Items that are in good shape should be donated to people in need, and broken items can often be repaired instead of being sent to the landfill.