It's a shame when electronic products break, but the cost of repairs can be nearly the same as buying new ones. As a result, many products are discarded without repair, creating electronic waste and depleting the planet's resources. Last April (2022), the Austrian government began issuing electronics repair vouchers, covering half the cost of repairs for appliances like laptops, mobile phones, and coffee machines. Over the course of the year, over 560,000 vouchers were issued, and the number of locations accepting vouchers has increased to 3,500, making repairs more attractive.
Repairs become cheap and convenient
Austria's incentive program, which ran for a full year since April of last year, allows users to download repair vouchers from the official website. Each voucher covers 50% of the repair cost, with a maximum of 200 euros (approximately NT$6,640). Once redeemed, users can apply for another voucher to repair another electronic device.
The Associated Press reported that the Austrian Ministry of Environment counted the results of one year and found that the public had used more than 560,000 maintenance vouchers, far exceeding the expected target of 400,000 by 2026, and the number of maintenance points also increased to 3,500.
The European Right to Repair organization explained that the core of the Right to Repair initiative is to make repairs easier. At the start of the campaign, 1,200 companies accepted repair vouchers. The ability for people to find nearby repair stations was a key factor in the program's success
The repair subsidy is funded with 130 million euros from the Next Generation EU recovery fund.
Reverse the mindset of "repair is worse than buying new"
This isn't the first time Austria has introduced a repair program. Back in 2020, Vienna launched its "Reparaturbon" program, which subsidized 50% of repair costs, capped at €100. Besides subsidies for appliances, it also covers clothing alterations, bicycle repairs, and furniture.
The online magazine "Reasons to Be Cheerful" reported that Vienna's program was well received, with over 35,000 items restored and 850 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions saved. Compared to the cumbersome procedures of the past, Vienna's secret to success lies in its simplified process: citizens only pay half the cost of the repairs, with the city funding the rest.
Chloé Mikolajczak, a Right to Repair advocate, said that if the cost of repair is too high, equivalent to more than 30% of the price of a new product, people will usually just buy a new one.
Sepp Eisenriegler, founder of the Vienna repair center R.U.S.Z., has also encountered this situation. For example, if he tells a customer that the repair fee is 150 euros, the customer will reply that he can buy a discounted new one for only 250 euros.
He believes that the long-term proliferation of cheap and low-quality products, coupled with high repair costs, has led to consumers' misunderstandings, and repair subsidies can correct this mistake.
Markus Piringer of the NGO "Environmental Consulting" (DIE UMWELTBERATUNG) noted that Vienna's implementation of a repair incentive program has led to an increase in new customers for repair shops, improved repair quality, and a greater willingness to spend on spare parts. However, he stressed that this policy is only a first step and that more comprehensive reforms are needed.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/236812)
