The ReCare project explored how Londoners approach repair for their small household electrical and electronic devices via a London-wide survey.
This executive summary presents an overview of the survey findings and provides insights to inform future policies and programmes that reduce e-waste and improve reuse and repair for electricals and electronics.
Key findings include:
- When their product broke or malfunctioned, around two-thirds of survey respondents considered repair in the first instance.
- Age and income were found to have a role in what repair route Londoners select, with home repair favoured by older generations and lower income earners, with professional repair favoured by higher income earners.
- Although more cases of electrical than electronic products were reported, participants were more likely to move forwards with repair of electronic products.
- Repairability of the product, cost of the repair, cost of the original product, and function (condition and quality) of the product are the top factors that determine whether Londoners will repair their broken or malfunctioning electronic and electrical products.
- Interventions that lower the cost of repair could potentially reduce barriers and improve uptake.
The recommendations make the case for developing local initiatives across the city that improve awareness, reduce costs, provide skill building opportunities and widen access to repair tools.
The full technical report underlying this research is available upon request.
The ReCare project was funded by Challenge LDN and led by the London Borough of Barnet along with partner organisations LEDNet, London Councils’ One World Living (OWL) and London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) programmes, and ReLondon.
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