The Environmental Cost of Disposable Appliances and Need to Get Back to Reliability

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Appliances used to be built to last. Families could rely on their refrigerators, stoves, and washing machines for decades. Today, it’s a different story. Modern appliances seem to have built-in expiration dates, breaking down far sooner than expected. Companies like LG, Samsung, Frigidaire, and Whirlpool are at the forefront of this shift, with products that frequently fail just a few years after purchase. This disposable approach isn’t just frustrating—it begs me to wonder why more consumers and environmentalists are not stepping up to voice their concerns. If you think about it, this is adding more waste to the planet.


Built to Break: The Reality of Modern Appliances

I experienced this firsthand with my 10-year-old Frigidaire gas stove. When the igniter stopped working, we called for a repair only to find out that the part we needed was no longer made. The technician’s recommendation? Either buy a new stove or light the burners the old-fashioned way—with a match, just like my grandparents used to do.

Ask any appliance repair technician, and you’ll hear the same story: modern washers, dryers, refrigerators, and stoves just aren’t built like they used to be. My father’s front-loading Samsung washer and dryer have been replaced three times. LG once replaced an entire refrigerator when a simple, inexpensive part could have fixed the issue—but the part wasn’t available. Appliances that could last 15-20 years in the past now come with an expected lifespan of just 5-10 years.

This shift benefits manufacturers, who profit from frequent replacements, but the environment pays the price. Every broken appliance contributes to the growing waste crisis, filling landfills with plastic, metal, and hazardous chemicals.

Environmental Impact: Profit Over Planet

The environmental consequences of disposable appliances are severe:

  1. E-Waste Surge: Millions of appliances are discarded yearly due to premature obsolescence. The percentage of appliances sold to replace a broken appliance more than doubled over a 10-year period, indicating a significant increase in e-waste (iFixit).
  2. Resource Extraction: Manufacturing new appliances requires mining for raw materials, causing environmental destruction. The production of new devices necessitates the extraction of rare earth minerals, leading to ecosystem damage and substantial energy consumption.
  3. Carbon Emissions: Producing, shipping, and disposing of appliances creates significant carbon emissions. E-waste-related greenhouse gases rose 53% from 2014 to 2020, accounting for 580 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2020 alone (Energy Central).
  4. Landfill Overflow: Discarded appliances leak chemicals that contaminate soil and water supplies. Improper disposal of e-waste leads to environmental pollution, affecting both ecosystems and human health.

Companies often greenwash their products, advertising energy-efficient features while limiting access to replacement parts. Their focus remains on selling new units rather than supporting repairs, despite the mounting waste and environmental damage.

Right to Repair

To combat this waste crisis, Right to Repair legislation is gaining momentum, demanding that manufacturers provide repair manuals, diagnostic tools, and access to affordable parts. The Right to Repair movement is a crucial part of the broader effort to transition from a linear to a circular economy, promoting sustainability and reducing waste (Population Matters).

Real Solutions for Sustainability

The solution is clear: repairability must be prioritized over disposability.

  1. Legislation for Right to Repair: Laws should require manufacturers to support independent repairs. Currently, the UK's right to repair law covers certain appliances, but there's a push to expand it to more products, including smartphones (Population Matters).
  2. Consumer Awareness: Consumers must choose brands known for durability and repairability. By repairing, upcycling, and buying second-hand products, we can extend the lifespan of appliances and combat planned obsolescence (Sustainability Lexicon).
  3. Manufacturer Accountability: Companies should be held responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products. Environmental NGOs advocate for reforms to reduce industry influence in the legislative process, ensuring that manufacturers prioritize sustainability (Le Monde).
  4. Sustainable Manufacturing Policies: Governments must incentivize the production of long-lasting, repairable products. The European Union is working on legislation aimed at extending electronic device lifespans, despite facing industry opposition (Le Monde).

Conclusion: The Time for Change Is Now

The Right to Repair movement isn’t just about saving money—it’s about saving the planet. If appliance manufacturers like LG, Samsung, Frigidaire, and Whirlpool are serious about sustainability, they must rethink their business models. The future of home technology depends on durability, repairability, and sustainability—not endless replacements that clog our landfills. The environment—and future generations—deserve better.

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