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Citizens of Richmond can have an appliance repaired or learn to do it themselves at Repair Fairs.
Photo courtesy City of Richmond
City enables recycling, reusing and repairing
Published 10:26 PST, Wed February 26, 2020
Last Updated: 2:13 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021
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There was a time when you could take a small appliance to a repair shop to be fixed. Now, if you can find a repair shop you’re told fixing will cost more than replacing.
Luckily, the City of Richmond offers a solution––a Repair Fair.
"Sometimes household items are thrown away because either the cost to fix them isn't deemed worth it, or because it seems easier to just replace it,” says Mayor Malcom Brodie. “The Richmond Repair Fair makes it convenient to get free repairs done on a variety of household items."
Residents are invited to bring small kitchen appliances and household items to be fixed by volunteers from Repair Matters, a Vancouver-based initiative that brings together people with different skill sets and experience to offer their repair expertise.
City spokesperson Clay Adams recommends registering in advance.
“One item per resident will be accepted, and residents are encouraged to submit the item they plan to bring for repairs by commenting on the city's Repair Fair Facebook event page or by contacting the city at garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca, so that fixers are able to plan accordingly to have the required tools available.”
And if you would like to learn these skills for yourself, Adams says there will also be opportunities for fixers to sign up as volunteers at repairmatters.ca.
Accepted products include electrical items like toasters, blenders, sewing machines, space heaters and lamps, as well as items like jewelry, toys and bikes. The Repair Fair is not able to accept large appliances, clothing or electronics.
Offering a host of dates and locations, the city offers "Fix It, Don't Toss It" as the theme for Richmond's first Repair Fair on March 14 at Richmond City Hall (6911 No. 3 Rd.).
Residents are asked to stay at the event while their item is being repaired. They are also encouraged to visit the kids activity centre and information booths to learn tips on how to improve recycling and reduce waste.
The Richmond Repair Fair event is a pilot project for 2020. If there is strong community interest, this event could be continued each year.
Here are this year's currently scheduled Repair Fair events:
Date | Event Name | Event Time | Location |
March 14 | Richmond Repair Fair | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Richmond City Hall |
April 18 | Environmental Sustainability Workshops at City Hall | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Richmond City Hall |
May 9 | Public Works Open House | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Operation Works Yard |
June 27 | Richmond Repair Fair | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Richmond City Hall |
Sept. 12 | Environmental Sustainability Workshops at City Hall | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Richmond City Hall |
Sept. 26 | Richmond Repair Fair | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Richmond City Hall |
Oct. 24 | Richmond Repair Fair | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Richmond City Hall |
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