Repair Rather Than Replace: Upcoming Repair Cafe Teaches Easy Way to be Sustainable

Out with the old, in with the new isn't always the right motto when it comes to preventing waste and saving resources. The Wenatchee River Institute and Waste Loop have a free event,the Outdoor Gear Repair Cafe, designed for people with broken or worn items to coordinate with experienced folks to fix the items rather than replace.

"The goal of the Repair Cafe is to build community around sustainability," said Ariahna Jones, from Waste Loop. "And what that looks like is introducing awareness about waste reduction in different ways to do that within your own life."

According to Jones, one of the easiest steps to being more waste conscious within day to day life is by repairing and reusing items rather than automatically buying a replacement. The helpers at the Outdoor Gear Repair Cafe will be available with tools and tips to guide folks to a sustainable fix for their product.

"A lot of times people utilize their gear..if something goes wrong with it, they just toss it without learning how to fix it. It's kind of a product of our day and age that we're hoping to inspire change with being able to have the skills and the knowledge to fix things instead of throw them away. And that's reducing our footprint on the Earth," said Jones.

Biking, climbing, hiking and paddling gear in need of repair are all acceptable products to bring to the pop up repair session on November 14 from 6:30-8:30 that evening. The free event will take place at the WRI's Red Barn and have beer and wine available for purchase, which all proceeds will benefit Wenatchee River Institute programs.