throw away society

calleyw · 22 August 2005 at 9:51AM

Is it just me or does this really get on your nerves.

If I upgrade something I will always pass it on to someone else for them to upgrade and then pass on there old one to someone else.

Well my 3 year old scanner that I have used about 20 times has died. It cost £75 and a well know brand HP. Well I looked today at new scanners and a new sparkling HP one would be about £38.

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh and I know that just to look at my scanner a shop is going to charge like £20 an hour and then new parts etc.

What is society coming to when it is getting cheaper just to chuck it away rather then fix it.

I hate it. I always try and fix or give a new home to something that I no longer need.

No wonder are landfills are full. I have a recycling centre about 5 min walk from me. And everytime I go over there is a pile of Telly's and videos. Granted some of them will not work. But I once saw a tv on a stand with the Video underneath it.

Sorry just had to get this off my chest. I know some people will go why do you need a scanner. I do have a reason for needing a scanner and it is rather an obscure one and a digital camera (which we have) is of no use. But as I cross stitch I make working copies of the charts. (As far as I am ware for copyright reasons as long as they destroyed afterwards it is ok to do this)And now me (read Husband) no longer has access to a nice A3 Colour copier I will need to do this at home. So I can use my printer.

Going to go Arghhhhhhhhhhhh one more time. LOL!!!!!

Yours

Calley

squeaky · 22 August 2005 at 10:08AM

There are charities that take old computer stuff and send out to far flung places in the world though I'm not sure if they all take faulty stuff and do it up...

..I'm sure someone will be able to point you at one that might.

I agree though, far too much of everything is throw away stuff.

tr3mor · 22 August 2005 at 10:12AM

I agree with this, the price of electronic goods has come down so much that they are virtually disposable. While most parts of each good would be recyclable it's very rare that they are.

I don't know why the government doesn't put some kind of levy on the original price, to cover the costs of dismantling/recycling, maybe even make it refundable. ie you'd pay an extra £10 to begin with, and when you've finished with it, take it to a recycling centre, where you will be given a refund.

Then the item could be either be repaired/refurbished and given to charity/sold on, or dismantled and recycled safely.

lipidicman · 22 August 2005 at 10:19AM

There are new regs coming in to cover the recycling of electrical goods. I cant remember if it is the responsibility of the manufacturer or the retailer.

I think the problem is everyones fault. Really, you shouldn't buy a twenty pound toaster and then expect to be able to economically repair it when it breaks. You could buy the toasters that hotels use.
http://www.ogormans.co.uk/dualit.htm
These have replaceable elements, are stainless steel and built to last, but they cost. I know of very few people who have them!

fairylights_2 · 22 August 2005 at 10:27AM

What makes me mad is the cost of ink cartridges. To us, they're a necessary evil, but FIL (who is rather wealthy) realised it's cheaper for him to buy a new printer with cartridges included each time the cartridges run out than to replace to cartridges. That's screwed up. and he doesn't understand when I get cross.

MIL insists on using those flushable toilet cleaner things too. GRRRRRRR. Why won't a cloth going through the washing machine and a loo brush do any more? :mad: :mad: :mad:

calleyw · 22 August 2005 at 10:35AM

Personally before anything comes off the production line then there should be recycling capabilities put in place.

You can if you want to be really good send your cds off to germany to be recycled. And parts of it are used to make insulation for electric wires etc, etc.

If they can do it germany why not here. I don't mind paying a little extra for an item if I knew that it could be recycled.

Japan has a major problem with landfill as people are constantly upgrading there electronics. I did read that as soon as they get the box home item is already out of date :eek:

Yours

Calley

calleyw · 22 August 2005 at 10:39AM

fairylights wrote:

What makes me mad is the cost of ink cartridges. To us, they're a necessary evil, but FIL (who is rather wealthy) realised it's cheaper for him to buy a new printer with cartridges included each time the cartridges run out than to replace to cartridges. That's screwed up. and he doesn't understand when I get cross.

That is pure madness when you can buy copies of ink cartridges for only a few pounds each. Does he donate the new printer to worth while cause of just chucks it in the bin.

Does not matter who much money you have that is just so wasteful.

I am sure there are people who buy the value socks/pants/boxers and then just throw them away after one wearing why bother to wash. When you can get two pairs of value pants from tescos for 80p costs more to wash and think of the saving of electric, powder and the stress on the machine

What is the world coming to. Thank goodness for us the oldstyle moneysavers. There is some sanity in the world.

Yours

Calley

Loadsabob · 22 August 2005 at 10:45AM

I agree, I really hate this. And I would rather pay more for a quality, mendable item with parts that can be replaced, than a cheap version designed to last no more than a couple of years. Growing up I remember only one fridge / washing machine / Hoover...I think my Mum still has the fridge. Things are built to wear out now. I know some bright spark has realised their business can't boom if they make products that last forever...but if people like Dualit can do it and make good profits, surely others could if they bothered?...

But perversely, our I.T. department used to be allowed to sell old equipment to staff and students when they did their 3-yearly upgrade. Now they're not allowed - something to do with sending it back to the manufacturer for "recycling", because if they sell them to us, they can't guarantee that the items won't end up in landfill, and then the institution is liable for incorrect disposal...all a bit misguided, as surely selling the goods on to others to be re-used is actually quite a good way of ensuring a longer life to the product?...It needs some joined up thinking.

lipidicman · 22 August 2005 at 10:56AM

On radio 4 last night I heard that a major US potato peeler manufacturer did research and found that the most common reason for buying a new peeler was that the last one was thrown out with the peelings. So what did they do? What do you think? They made their peelers the same colour as potato skins, thus boosting loss and sales! The dull brown was compensated for by bright packaging for shelf impact. Genius!

Calley, electrical items aren't out of date as soon as you get them home. Its just because there will always be another product in development. But you cant avoid this, so it isn't worth worrying about. You wont buy every revision of a phone! Also even 80p pants will be economical to wash. Think of how many go in one wash load. People who do this are going for the convenience, not because it is saving money. If that was the case it would be madness!

lipidicman · 22 August 2005 at 11:03AM

Also, things can last. If you look after your hoover and clean the filters and service it yourself. But most people would be embarrased to have a fifteen year old hoover (I would be proud to have looked after it). It isn't just the manufacturers here. People need to wake up and realise that the messages from advertising about 'lifestyles' are just eating up money they will need for more important things (like food when they are retired)

Loadsabob, I can see the point of the goods being recycled. If somebody takes it home and uses it for a year then landfills it the impact is worse than if the company pays for it to be processed properly. Until this sort of recycling is guaranteed then they really dont have any choice to follow their rules

P.S. Our recycle wheelie was full for collection, our normal wheelie had a couple of sacks. We were very proud. We recycled our garden waste and think we need a composter now!

se999 · 22 August 2005 at 11:14AM

Hi,
Back to the idea of the original post. We've now swapped to 1 combined printer/scanner/copier, we used to have seperate printer & scanner. So at least we only have one item instead of two. It also gives us additional space.

So it could be worth pricing up this alternative, and maybe finding a new home for your working printer. At least it's only one item wearing out and causing a problem, rather than two!!

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

throw away society

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