State Secretary Chris Jansen (Public Transport and Environment): “In the Netherlands, we throw away 25 kilograms of electronics per person each year. In total, thats a mountain of 450 million kilograms per year. Often, this is unnecessary waste. Consumer electronics can last longer if repair becomes the norm. This way, we consume fewer resources that we can use elsewhere.”

Martin Hof, industry manager of consumer electronics at Techniek Nederland, also believes that repairing should become normal: “More and more consumers realize that we need to handle our devices more sustainably. Repairing is usually cheaper than buying new and better for the environment. With the National Repairers Register, you can easily find a skilled repair company.”

The National Repairers Register also contains information about the warranty conditions applicable to consumer electronics. The website also provides practical information about circular initiatives, such as Repair Cafés, circular craft centers, thrift stores, and WeCycle, the collector of electronic waste.

With the register, the government and the electronics industry fulfill the Right to Repair. This European legislation aims to make it easier for consumers to have consumer electronics repaired. The Netherlands is the first country in Europe with an official register supported by the government and the repair industry.