First right to repair law for electronics passed in New York

Following a multi-year battle, New York has become the first state in the US to pass an electronics right to repair law. Techbuyer applauds this fantastic milestone. The law, known as New York's Digital Fair Repair Act, was recently passed by assembly members in a 145–1 vote, after passing the State senate by a vote of 59 to 4. As a company that ourselves advocated for this law by writing to NY State Rep. Pat Fahy, we are appreciative of all of the hard work and grassroots campaigning by consumer rights groups and consumers. A great day for the circular economy! 

The result is a significant win for consumers and independent repair shops across the US, not just in New York. The most expansive piece of consumer rights legislation to pass in recent memory, the Digital Fair Repair Act will place the power of repair back into the hands of consumers.  

It’s also a step in the right direction towards reducing the amount of e-waste produced. Rep. Pat Fahy noted this in her statement, commenting: 

“The Digital Fair Repair Act puts consumers first, levels the playing field for independent repair shops, and reduces our e-waste footprint on the environment...we’d also help to reduce the 655,000 tons of toxic e-waste produced typically discarded in a single calendar year here in New York State.” 

We too, like to think of the Digital Fair Repair Act as a milestone for IT sustainability. We’ve previously written about the dangers of toxic e-waste on both the environment and on human health. By allowing independent repair shops and consumers to fix their products, it will deter individuals from discarding their e-waste and extend the life of electronic items such as cell phones and laptops, thus reducing the amount of toxic e-scrap being released into the environment.   

As a member of the ASCDI, we’d like to highlight a comment made by ASCDI President, Joe Marion: 

“We’ve always said that when someone owns a product, they have the right to sell it, give it away and repair it with anyone they choose. If manufacturers become the sole source to repair a product, they can dictate its’ end of life by withholding tech support and maintenance. Dictating the end-of life-forces end users to buy new products they don’t need and ends up filling landfills with used and otherwise useful products." 

Hopefully followed by similar upcoming victories, Digital Fair Repair is a win for end users, independent repair shops, and IT resellers. It’s clear that the NY State Legislature has made an environmentally responsible decision for its residents, and we would encourage Massachusetts and other states to follow in their tracks by passing right to repair legislation.