Aussie gov't tells volunteers to throw out thousands of functioning test routers
Thousands of routers distributed to Australian volunteers are being recalled and destroyed despite being functional, as the government program concludes.
- Thousands of functional routers are being discarded after a government program in Australia concluded.
- The devices could have been reflashed for continued use, raising sustainability concerns.
- The recall highlights a lack of planning for hardware reuse in government initiatives.
- Critics argue the decision contradicts broader efforts to reduce electronic waste.
The Australian government has instructed volunteers to discard thousands of routers that were distributed as part of a community program, despite the devices being fully functional. The routers, which could have been reflashed for continued use, are now being treated as e-waste. The program, aimed at improving internet access in remote areas, has faced criticism for its lack of sustainability planning. Experts note that the recall contradicts efforts to reduce electronic waste and promote reuse of hardware.
Source: Aussie gov't tells volunteers to throw out thousands of functioning test routers. Read the full piece at the source.
Raises questions about sustainability in government tech programs.
- reflashed
- Reinstalling or updating firmware on a device to restore or repurpose it.
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