Thousands of applications submitted for repair grants - Three thousand requests for repair assistance
The Consumer Center Thuringia has been implementing a repair bonus program for electronic devices, funded by the Thuringian Ministry of Environment. The program, which started in mid-June this year, has been receiving an average of 60 applications per day.
According to the Ministry, approximately 3,000 Thuringians have applied for a financial subsidy for the repair of electronic devices within two months. The fund for the repair bonus has been filled with 600,000 euros by the state this year, and the availability of funds for further subsidies depends on how often the maximum support is claimed.
Half of the repair costs are covered per application, up to a maximum of 100 euros per year. Repaired electronic devices mainly include mobile phones, washing machines, dishwashers, coffee makers, stoves, and ovens, with exceptions like a chandelier or an electric piano. The average repair cost is 75 euros, according to ministry figures.
The repair orders support local businesses and have prevented several hundred tons of electronic waste and thus several thousand tons of carbon dioxide, according to calculations by the Fraunhofer Institute. Since its inception in 2021, the program has funded approximately 40,000 repairs.
The Consumer Center Thuringia implements the program on behalf of the Ministry. Applications for the repair subsidy must be submitted to the Consumer Center Thuringia. The location of the program is in Erfurt, Thuringia.
The Thuringian Ministry of Environment stated that the demand confirms the trend of previous years. If the maximum bonus of 100 euros is not exhausted by a repair, the remainder can be claimed for another repair. Money for further subsidies for repairs is still available.
It's worth noting that the available search results do not provide data or analysis on the effectiveness of this repair subsidy program in Thuringia or details on the types of devices most commonly repaired under such a program. However, repair subsidy programs can have a significant impact on electronic waste reduction, as they incentivise the repair of electronic devices instead of their disposal.
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The Thuringian Ministry of Environment, in conjunction with the Consumer Center Thuringia, is encouraging vocational training in the field of environmental-science, recognizing the need for more individuals skilled in environmental matters to support the success of programs like the repair bonus for electronic devices. [1]
To ensure a sustainable future, the Consumer Center Thuringia, in collaboration with personal-finance institutions, is planning a series of vocational training programs aimed at teaching repair skills for appliances and electronic devices, fostering a community policy that fosters repair, reuse, and recycling. [2] [3] [5]
