Austria Introduces Program to Support Repairing of Electronic Products

Austria has introduced a Repair Bonus voucher scheme to encourage people to repair their broken electrical appliances instead of replacing them. Under the scheme, the government will contribute up to €200 towards the cost of repairs for items such as washing machines, electric kettles, laptops, and mobile phones. The aim is to reduce electronic waste and promote a focus on repairing items rather than discarding them. The scheme has been successful so far, with businesses such as Helferline, a computer and mobile phone repair workshop in Vienna, reporting a doubling of revenues since its implementation. Customers can download a voucher from a government website and pay the repair shop upfront, with 50% of the costs reimbursed after three to four weeks. The Repair Bonus scheme is part of Austria's Covid Recovery Fund and only covers electrical appliances, but the City of Vienna has a separate scheme that helps people pay for repairs to old clothes, bicycles, and furniture. The coordinator of the Repair Network in Vienna, Markus Piringer, emphasizes the importance of repairability and calls for efforts at the European Union level to promote repairs and raise awareness about the value of repairing rather than replacing. While the voucher schemes have increased the number of repairs, there is still a shortage of technicians and craftspeople in Austria. This highlights the need for promoting repairs as a viable job option. The voucher system has also benefited businesses such as Marc Warnaar's bicycle shop in Vienna, as more people are bringing their bikes for repairs even during the winter season. Overall, the Repair Bonus scheme has proven to be a win-win situation for customers, local businesses, and the environment, by helping people save money, generating additional revenues for businesses, and reducing electronic waste.