Band 8+: In many parts of the world, people now often throw things away when they are broken and buy new ones, whereas in the past broken things were repaired and used again. Why do you think this is the case? What problems may it lead to?

In many parts of the world, broken items are routinely discarded rather than repaired, while elsewhere, mending and reusing remains the norm. This essay will examine the reasons behind this throwaway culture and propose practical solutions to curb it.

Several factors fuel this trend. Firstly, mass production has driven down the price of new goods to the point where repair costs often outweigh the price of a replacement, making disposal the more economical choice on the surface. Secondly, rapid technological advancement means gadgets become outdated within a few years, encouraging consumers to chase the latest model rather than fix the old one. Thirdly, many products are affected by planned obsolescence, deliberately manufactured with sealed components that make repair a near-impossible task. Finally, the decline of local repair shops, coupled with increasingly hectic lifestyles, means replacing an item is often simply more convenient than seeking out a professional fix.

That said, a range of solutions could help shift this culture. Governments could enforce right-to-repair legislation, requiring manufacturers to make spare parts and repair manuals readily available, as is already happening in the EU. Grassroots initiatives, such as repair cafés, empower ordinary people to give everyday items a new lease of life at little to no cost. Manufacturers, for their part, could redesign products with disassembly and longevity in mind rather than built-in expiry. Not every discarded item is broken, though; some are simply out of fashion. In such cases, donation platforms and charity drives allow items to find a second home with those who still have a use for them, killing two birds with one stone by satisfying the owner’s desire to move with trends while reducing waste.

In conclusion, while economic pressures and rapid innovation explain why people favour disposal over repair, a combination of legislation, community action, and mindful manufacturing could go a long way towards closing the loop and making reuse the norm rather than the exception.