3 ms·

America exercises significant control over our poorer trade partners, and we have great power here. We could require oversight and review of our e-waste recycli

America exercises significant control over our poorer trade partners, and we have great power here. We could require oversight and review of our e-waste recycling partners, or we can just dump our waste out of sight and claim no responsibility in the matter. One approach would solve the problem, and one shifts blame to someone much less power to really solve the problem.

Scoundreller 7y ago
That’s still hard to do. I think consumers would care more if we just held unreliable manufacturers to account. Either make stuff that keeps working or the manufacturer has to pay to repair it. We do it with cars (lemon law), why not everything else that’s repairable. Spare parts must be available, or else. Repair schematics must be made available. A competitor can reverse engineer anything anyway, so the benefit of being secretive is outweighed by consumer interests. Finally, more effort toward “second-lifing” old stuff instead of shredding it. E.g. old phones as security cameras.
- jolfdb 7y ago
  You don't need all those weird rules, all you need is a recycling tax on the product, and let market forces sort it out.
  - Scoundreller 7y ago
    How do you determine the tax? Is the government to determine how long different car models and manufacturers will last? Even if you charge a flat tax ($50 per laptop), there’s still little incentive for the manufacturer to provide ongoing support. Don’t underestimate the power of marketing to convince people to ignore the future.
    - HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
      That $50 flat tax will also make it harder for anyone new to compete (the practicality of which seems to be getting higher instead of lower with all these SBC's and the like). Don't underestimate the power of law to shape the future of companies, and which ones survive.

3 ms·

America exercises significant control over our poorer trade partners, and we have great power here. We could require oversight and review of our e-waste recycli

by TaylorAlexander 7y ago

Scoundreller 7y ago
That’s still hard to do. I think consumers would care more if we just held unreliable manufacturers to account. Either make stuff that keeps working or the manufacturer has to pay to repair it. We do it with cars (lemon law), why not everything else that’s repairable. Spare parts must be available, or else. Repair schematics must be made available. A competitor can reverse engineer anything anyway, so the benefit of being secretive is outweighed by consumer interests. Finally, more effort toward “second-lifing” old stuff instead of shredding it. E.g. old phones as security cameras.
- jolfdb 7y ago
  You don't need all those weird rules, all you need is a recycling tax on the product, and let market forces sort it out.
  - Scoundreller 7y ago
    How do you determine the tax? Is the government to determine how long different car models and manufacturers will last? Even if you charge a flat tax ($50 per laptop), there’s still little incentive for the manufacturer to provide ongoing support. Don’t underestimate the power of marketing to convince people to ignore the future.
    - HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
      That $50 flat tax will also make it harder for anyone new to compete (the practicality of which seems to be getting higher instead of lower with all these SBC's and the like). Don't underestimate the power of law to shape the future of companies, and which ones survive.