Trending This means that although the appliance is probably repairable, consumers are left with no alternatives other than to replace the item because repair parts are not available. Washing machines that are on the market now are typically difficult to fix and can be extremely expensive. The idea behind the new plans is that consumers will be encouraged to save money and fix their appliances rather than replace them. Landfill is a growing problem for the world with high levels of methane gas and CO2 generated by the rotting rubbish, contributing to climate change. A television is said to have an average lifespan of about five to seven years (Image: Getty)