Last week a local recycle center caught fire.  It took 17 volunteer fire departments to stop the fire.  The facility damage estimate is more than $5,000,000 US.  Security video shows the fire started in the electronics recycle area.
 
The Washington Post recently posted an article highlighting and demonstrating the issue with recycling electronics:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/09/11/explosive-problem-with-recycling-ipads-iphones-other-gadgets-they-literally-catch-fire/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.2186b51e38d6
 
The Repair Association supports the idea that service tools, manuals and parts should be available to anyone that wants to repair or modify a product they own.  https://repair.org/stand-up/
 
Here is a consumer's Bill Of Rights to repair:  https://ifixit.org/right

I used to refurb all sorts of wacky post market stuff. One of those things being the last gen of cheapo consumer film cameras (immediately before digital became cheap enough to become ubiquitous). Esentially if I had a camera with a cracked exterior that worked and a dead camera with a good shell I'd pop them open and do a swaperoo.
 
Welp, I learned very quickly to be careful how I grabbed on to those buggers. There are capacitors (I think it's the capacitors) that are used to store/buildup energy for the flash. One of those discharged whilst I had a tight grip on the exposed guts of one.
 
It was unpleasant.

OT: You stayin' dry down there in NC?
 
:-/

Apart from a great 4year old iPod shuffle and it's ****e follow up, with it's low outout jack and failure to live for more than 18 months, I've never owned anyother Apple product. But for some reason I've watched to many of these videos, buy this guy. He repairs Macs and ripes Apple apart for the difficulty Apple cause in refurb and repair of Apple products.
 



 

i believe that in the EU the "right to repair" is already law?
 
edit, i checked and it looks like it's still in progress, not actual law yet
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/government/eu-prepares-right-to-repair-legislation-to-fight-short-product-lifespans/
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/guarantees-returns/index_en.htm
 

18 states either passed a law or have a law floating through the legislative process.
 
Massachusetts started the ball rolling in 2012 with a law requiring all car manufacturers to publish repair information and diagnostic codes.