John,

You bought it, it broke, you should be able to fix it. It seems common sense, but it's not always the case.

Many products are made to be so difficult and expensive to fix that we're essentially forced to buy a new item instead. Consumer surveys show that 1 in 5 smartphone users had to replace their phone sooner than they wanted because they couldn't find someone with the tools, parts, and access to repair it.1

It's long past time to remove these kinds of manufacturer-imposed barriers to repair.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can help create rules that give Americans the right to repair their stuff. Tell the FTC: Stand up for Right to Repair.

Technology allows us to do so many things ... and can create utter disaster when it stops working. If we could more easily repair our devices, not only could we save a lot of panic, but a lot of waste too.

This is especially critical for electronic waste, which has become the fastest-growing waste stream in the world.2 And when electronics are thrown away in landfills, they can release toxic chemicals like lead and mercury which can leach into nearby groundwater and contaminate our environment.3

There are mountains of technology like phones, computers, cameras, vacuum cleaners and toasters sitting in landfills, some of which likely broke after only being used a short time.

To make matters worse, this is also a waste of important raw materials like rare earth metals, copper, and cobalt that are sourced through destructive mining practices.

We're calling on the FTC to use its rulemaking power to continue its strong work to protect our Right to Repair. Add your name today.

Thank you,

Faye Park
President

1. Elizabeth Chamberlain, "A bipartisan right to repair bill lands in the US Senate," iFixit, March 16, 2022.
2. "Helping Communities Manage Electronic Waste," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, June 1, 2021.
3. "Soaring e-waste affects the health of millions of children, WHO warns," World Health Organization, June 15, 2021.

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