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Given that we've largely decided that sustainability is the way forward, an argument in favour of e-waste isn't particularly convincing.

User-replaceable batteries are just the first step. What we should all be pushing towards to reduce waste and emissions is a no-compromise right to repair, with easily accessible parts, tools and schematics.

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I support the right to repair, but it's not the only way to reduce e-waste. Another complementary approach is through refundable deposits, just like with beverage containers. Include a $20+ deposit in the price of each smartphone, then refund it when the consumer returns it to a retailer or manufacturer for proper recycling and safe disposal.

Recycling is pretty much a scam, the first step of reduce-reuse-recycle is “reduce”.

One commenter said this legislation doesn’t make sense because they get a new phone every three years.

Even if they do, it would reduce demand if the phone continued to have parts and software for someone else to use.

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