Project aims to tackle e-waste by training people in valuable repair skills

Tools (credit Louis Hansel via Unsplash) — credit Louis Hansel via Unsplash

Enfield Council is inviting residents to learn more about its project to launch a ‘repair café’ that will help people fix their broken appliances and gadgets.

The community repair café will offer a space for residents to learn and mend their broken electronic devices and small appliances for free.

The initiative aims to tackle electronic waste, or ‘e-waste’, extend the life of everyday electronic devices, and train people in valuable repair skills.

In partnership with charity The Restart Project, the council is building a new volunteer–led community repair group to lead and run regular repair cafes across the borough, ensuring these events are accessible to everyone in Enfield.

Locals are invited this Saturday (22nd) to Enfield Town Library, from 12pm-2pm, to learn more about the repair café, hear about the plans and find out how to get involved.

Whether through volunteering, offering support or general interest, everyone is encouraged to get involved. From helping organise the repair cafes to supporting as a fixer, host or admin support, the community repair group welcomes all skills.

Sabri Ozaydin, the council’s cabinet member for environment and placemaking, said: “In the generation of short-lived products, it’s important for us to understand the implication of throwing away electronic items without giving them a chance to be repaired.

“This is why we’re incredibly excited to bring [the] repair café to our community. Not only will this help tackle the increasing mountain of e-waste, but it’ll also offer an accessible and affordable alternative to fixing our electronic devices. From tablets to toasters, from iPhones to headphones, we can slowly make a change to become a greener borough.

“If you’re interested in helping repair broken devices, and our planet, I encourage you to attend the Repair Enfield event on 22nd November at Enfield Town Library. We hope to grow the group to include other areas like bike and textile repairs, and would love to meet anyone who’s keen to help fix in these areas at the event.”

The project is made possible through funding support from the North London Waste Authority.

For more information and to reserve a spot for Saturday’s event:
Visit eventbrite

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