Words by Abi Scaife
A community repair centre called the ‘Fixing Factory’ has opened in Camden, London.
What exactly is a ‘Fixing Factory’?
The idea is to help members of the community connect with local repair shops.
The aim is to encourage people to fix their broken household items, rather than throw them away, and cause damage to the environment.
Not only does the Fixing Factory connect people with a network of fixers, but it also helps educate people on what can be fixed rather than being tossed in a landfill, and teaches them basic repair skills.
Why's it so important to stop electronics from being thrown away?
Our electronic products make up around 3.7% of global greenhouse emissions, which is pretty horrifying, and makes it all the more important to make current products last for longer, rather than replacing them.
That makes it sound even better! What happens to the items that are fixed?
Some of them are taken home by those who brought them in, while items like unwanted laptops, tablets and computers are repaired and donated to people in the community who need them.
It sounds great!
Doesn’t it? The hope is that by creating these community repair centres we can reduce the impact of electrical waste on the environment, create a culture of taking care of our stuff for longer, and close the ‘digital divide’ within communities.
Locate the Fixing Factories here!
This article aligns with the UN SDG Responsible Consumption and Production.
