Even though people now tend to hold on to their phones for a little longer, they buy a new model sooner or later, and old devices are bound for a life in the drawer, especially when repairs or battery changes are everything but easy. Electronic waste is a real thing, and the European Commission plans to battle the issue with a new bill, reports.

The new annex will extend current eco-design laws in the EU to include smartphones, tablets, and laptops as a part of the , effective 2021. Europe first mandated efficiency standards for computers, TVs, dishwashers, and washing machines back in ...