Why repairing electronics will fix our environment?

Ever wondered where else your broken toaster could go? Why not get it repaired at a Restart party where volunteers help fix broken electronics.

There is a growing amount of electronic waste.

At Restart parties, people are encouraged and empowered to use their electronics longer by learning and sharing their repair and maintenance skills.

Love a repair challenge?

Why repairing your electronics helps our environment?

1. Preventing electronic waste ending in landfill. It is obvious but if electronics are fixed, we prevent them ending in rubbish dumps.
2. Extending the value of electronics. We don’t need to mine for more precious metals if we are already rich with broken devices that are still valuable.
3. Encourage recycling at end-of-life of electronics. As observed by the Restart Project, people who get their electronics fixed are certain to have them recycled in the worst case if it can’t be fixed.
4. Help transition from a linear throw away culture to a circular economy. As we move into an era where people are empowered to be prosumers, the old consumer vs producer model of the world will change and the emphasis of repair as key path for value flow will play an increasingly important role.

I attended my first Restart party held at the Primrose Hill Community Centre. I was surprised to see the wide range of items being fixed and these included the usual suspects such as laptops, smartphones, and digital cameras, but also the more obscure gadgets such as a guitar pedal and a hand held heated massager. There is a strong sense of community here. Regulars return to get more electronics fixed and volunteers inspire each other to up their repair skills.

The Restart Project is a charity founded by Janet Gunter and Ugo Vallauri and they have been running parties since 2012. Restart parties can be found in many places worldwide including many major cities.

They also run corporate events to promote sustainability and the circular economy. Get in touch to find out how you can get your electronics fixed or host a Restart party.

At IYWTo, we are curating the most impactful grassroots projects to help people discover ways to act on climate change. Join me as I learn more about the innovations in environmental sustainability.