Have you recently complained about the "planned obsolescence" of your printer, your clothing, or your shoes? Often, in today's culture, we throw away items that could have been repaired, if we only knew whom to ask to do the repairs. In Amsterdam, an effort is underway to assist people with repairing items that still are useful and, in doing so, decrease the amount of trash generated. Martine Postma, a former journalist and mother, came up with the idea of developing a place where people could get things fixed for free in a friendly environment. Ms Postma has assisted groups to start Repair Cafes in France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, South Africa, and Australia.
At the Repair Cafe, neighbors work together to mend clothing and revive appliances. Volunteers including upholsterers, pharmacists, electricians, and even an architect come to a community center several times a month. People can bring in whatever they want to have repaired, and the people who "like to fix things" are available. There is no cost for the repairs. Coffee, tea, cookies, and conversation are a part of the effort.
The Repair Cafe concept has met with great success in the Netherlands. Thirty cafes currently exist. Efforts are supported by a $525,000 grant awarded by the Dutch government, donations from various foundations, and individual donations. The funds pay for staffing, marketing, and even for a bus to transport people to the Repair Cafe.
Han van Kasteren, a professor at the Eindhoven University of Technology, notes that "When you get people together to do something for the environment, you raise consciousness." Additionally, Nina Tellegen emphasizes that the Repair Cafe creates a place for people to meet and get to know one another. Those who are good at "fixing things" can share their skills with others.
In the United States, the Missoula Urban Demonstration Project and the West Seattle Fixers Collective provide resources similar to the Repair Cafe. Information related to getting things fixed is provided on the Internet through "Be Resourceful" in Portland, Oregon, and the "West Seattle Tool Library."1 Perhaps nursing faculty can generate internal "Repair Cafes" for items such as printers, penlights, scrubs, or stethoscopes. We can also encourage our students and colleagues to at least think about having items repaired.
1. McGrane S. An effort to bury a throwaway culture one repair at a time. The New York Times: Europe. May 8, 2012. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/world/europe/amsterdam-tries-to-change-culture. Accessed May 18, 2012. [Context Link]
Submitted by: Robin E. Pattillo, PhD, RN, CNL, News Editor at [email protected].