‘Use and throw’ is Hyderabad’s attitude towards appliances, notes study

Hyderabad shares space with the national capital in accelerated consumerism as reflected in its residents’ preference for purchase of new appliances rather than repair the faulty ones.

A survey conducted by Toxics Link, an environmental research and advocacy organisation, revealed that repair culture is declining in Hyderabad across income groups. The study, titled ‘Stitch in Time: Evaluating Consumer Behaviour & Electronics Repair Accessibility,’ was conducted in five cities — Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Nagpur and Ranchi, to analyse consumer behaviour, repair practices and challenges faced by the repair industry. It concluded that Delhi and Hyderabad show a dominant ‘replacement trend’ that cuts across all economic groups, reflecting a fast-paced consumption pattern.

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Significant replacement trends were found in Hyderabad, particularly for IT and Telecom equipment such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. ​ Lower-income groups ( ₹1-5 lakh) exhibited a high replacement rate (85.71%) for IT devices, driven by outdated technology and repair costs. ​ Small appliances such as toasters, mixers, and hair straighteners are replaced 61.54% of the time, while large electrical and electronic appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners are rarely replaced due to their high cost.

As income levels rise, replacement rates increase, with higher-income groups prioritising convenience and technological upgrades. ​ For those earning above ₹20 lakh, replacement is dominant, with IT and Telecom equipment and large appliances showing replacement rates of 65%. ​Spare part availability is a major concern in getting the appliances repaired, and independent repair shops are often reliant on third party components, which are not trusted by consumers.

Hyderabad’s repair facilities are partially equipped, with most repair shops relying on non-original spare parts due to the high cost and limited availability of genuine components. ​ Technicians, who lack formal training, often salvage parts from non-functional devices or source them from local wholesalers and informal markets. ​ Environmental sustainability is rarely a focus in training programs, contributing to unsustainable practices. ​

Software locks and warranties discouraging third-party repairs are another reason, which increases e-waste in the environment. Recommendations for the city include affordable, genuine spare parts and elimination of restrictions on third party repairs, structured training programmes to equip the technicians with modern repair techniques, establishment of public-private repair hubs, cashback schemes or tax rebates for repairs, and imposition of green tax on premature replacements.

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India’s e-waste generation is projected to rise from 34 billion kg in 2010 to 82 billion kg by 2030, the study noted, and flagged low recycling rates are poised to rise from eight billion kgs in 2010 to mere 13.6 billion kgs by 2030. Widening gap between e-waste generation and formal recycling rates highlights a major sustainability challenge. By choosing to repair rather than replace, the growing problem of e-waste can be mitigated while saving energy and raw materials used in manufacturing new products, the report said.