Fix-It DC
- Helps create a culture of recovery and reuse,
- Provides resources for minimizing and diverting waste, and
- Supports the creation of economic opportunities in recovery, repair, and reuse - by exposing participants to local repair services they may not otherwise know of, these events may also serve to shore up the repair industry, driving customers to repair businesses instead of defaulting to purchasing new items.
Why is Fix and Repair so Important?
Repairing and reusing things, rather than throwing them away, helps reduce the amount of raw materials and energy used to manufacture new products. It also minimizes how much stuff goes into the landfill. Increasing repair and reuse in the District helps toward reaching Zero Waste by 2040 and to become a carbon neutral city by 2045.
What is a Fix-It Event?
Fix-It DC hosts free community repair events for all District residents. Participants bring their broken household items to an eventwhere they are paired up with a coache whoprovides them guidance in fixing their items. . Fix-It DC provides a wide variety of repair tools but not replacement parts.
These events not only extend the useful life of consumer goods, but they also create a culture of recovery and reuse by helping to shift mindsets toward considering repairing items before replacing them. Hopefully, this repair ethic will lead people to consider visiting local repair businesses or repairability in future purchasing decisions.
Fix-It Event?
- Wednesday, November 19 5:30pm-7:30pm at MLK Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St NW) – Please register >>
Participate as a Fixer
Are you handy? Do you have repair skills you’d like to share (e.g., jewelry, small appliances, bicycles, etc.)? Sign up to be one of our Fix-it Coaches.
Being a Fix-It DC Coach is easy, simply provide participants with:
1) encouragement to investigate their broken item and;
2) guidance with tools.
MLK Tool Library
Have an upcoming DIY project? Discover what you can do with the Labs Tool Library.
Fix-It @ Across the Region
The DC Make Fix Anything project will help you make or fix nearly anything (free!). Since 2013 we have helped people with a broad range of makes and fixes spanning bicycles to broken hearts (one person even sent something to the moon!). We won't do your make or fix for you - where's the learning in that? - we will help you achieve your project yourself. Sessions typically occur once a month on a Monday evening. Register and vote for scheduling at makefixanything.org.
Electronics Recycling
If an item can’t be repaired, recycling used electronics can help recover valuable resources and properly manage potentially hazardous materials. Certain electronics are also banned from being put in the trash in the District. The eCYCLE DC program brings individuals in the District of Columbia more options for recycling their electronics.
For more information, visit the eCYCLE DC or email [email protected] with questions.
Contact Us
Please email: [email protected] with questions.
For More Information About Hosting Fix-It Events:
The City of Austin, TX offers a guide on starting your own Fix-It Clinics.
Check out the Urban Sustainability Director’s Network Sustainable Consumption Toolkit: Community Repair Events.