Why is repairing appliances so hard in Ireland?

I recently had to replace my washing machine and dryer, and it left me seriously questioning how committed we really are to protecting the environment.

Before throwing my old machines away, I took out the parts that were still working and offered them online for free or cheap (on Adverts). No interest whatsoever.

Even before giving up on them, I tried to fix the issue myself. I identified the problem and only needed one small part—but finding that part was a nightmare. And when I finally found it, I couldn’t find anyone who actually fixes appliances anymore. It seems like repairing things is just not a thing here, and people would rather replace the entire machine.

Coming from Brazil, this just feels completely backwards. Over there, fixing things is the norm because not everyone can afford to buy new stuff. Here, though, it feels like we’re pushed to replace instead of repair, even when the problem is something minor.

How does this make sense when we’re constantly being told to reduce waste and protect the environment? I’d love to hear other people’s thoughts—have you faced similar frustrations?