Share, reuse, and repair

Have a small appliance, electronic item, or piece of clothing that needs fixing? As part of our vision to be a zero waste community by 2040, the City, along with our partners, host free, convenient repair events in Vancouver to make it easier for residents to get items fixed that might otherwise end up in the landfill.

The more we can repair, reuse, and recycle, the longer products stay in circulation. 

Join us at the next repair event and fix that hole in your favourite shirt or get that reading lamp working again. You might even see your “inner repairer” come to life to help you fix your own item.

Book a repair timeslot in the event link below

General guidelines

• Maximum of one broken item per person 
• Each person bringing an item to be repaired must complete a waiver on-site.
• Visitors are encouraged to participate in the repair of their item, so there is an opportunity to learn new skills and gain confidence to attempt future repairs at home.  
• Please book your appointment in the correct category. If booked in the wrong category, there is a good chance you will not be seen.
• No drop-ins as these events are very busy.
• You must arrive early for your appointment in order to get the waiver completed before your appointment begins. If you arrive late, you will forfeit your spot. 
• Be patient, kind and respectful to our volunteer repairers and other participants. This is a free event and the repairers are volunteers. 
• Do not come to the repair event if you are sick, caring for someone who is sick, or self-isolating due to COVID.

The following items can be repaired at a repair café:

• Clothing and textiles items
  • Repairs to holes, ripped seams
  • Button replacements, attendees must provide a replacement button
  • Zipper replacements, attendees must provide a replacement zipper

Information icon  Hemmings and alterations are not provided

• Cell phones
  • Screen replacements, on iPhone XR series or older models only and attendees must provide replacement screen
• Small appliances such as toasters, coffee makers, vacuums, blenders
• Electronic items such as DVD players, radios, gaming systems
• Desktop computers and laptops
  • Virus removal, data recovery, backup and software install
• Bicycles
  • Minor repairs, tune-ups, cable adjustments for brakes and gears, seat and handle bar adjustments, tire patching
  • Inner tube replacement, attendee must provide replacement inner tube
  • Cable replacement, attendee must provide replacement cable
• Other miscellaneous items

When booking an appointment please select the correct category or you may not be seen by one of our volunteer repairers.

Unfortunately, not all broken items can be fixed at a repair café. The volunteer repairers will do their best to diagnose and repair your broken item, but if it is unrepairable, or if the repair will take longer than your 30-minute appointment, your repair won’t be possible.  

The Repair Cafe has the right to reject any of the following items:

• Items containing lead or asbestos 
• Unclean items, such as those with food residue, grease, or dust
• Items containing insects of any kind, dead or alive
• Dirty and unwashed clothing and textiles items

The following items are not accepted for repairs:

• Printers
• Furniture
• Tablets
• Large appliances
• Bags and backpacks
• Shoes
• Jewelry
• Sewing machines
• Power washers
• Any clothing item that needs hemming or alterations
• Items that will take longer than 30 minutes to repair 

Important note If you bring an item that is not repairable to a repair event, you must take it back and dispose of the item responsibly.

ElectroRecycle External website, opens in new tab will be at some repair events to accept non-repairable small appliances and power tools for recycling. Click the event details to see if ElectroRecycle is participating.

Interested in organizing your own free swap? Our toolkit offers guidance on planning and running a swap event with family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues. Download the free swap toolkit PDF file (2.4 MB)

People bring small, portable items that are clean and in working condition to swap. Items are dropped off upon arrival, and folks can browse the free swap tables to find something they like.

• Swap it. Drop off items for others to choose from and then pick out new-to-you items dropped off by others.
• Donate it. Feel free to donate items without taking home anything new.
• Take it. Nothing to donate? No problem. Everyone is welcome to take items home – there are plenty of great finds to go around.

Size

• Each item will fit in a regular-size reusable bag – think grocery bag

Condition

• In clean, good working order

Quantity

• Bring 1 to 2 items
• Take as many as you like

• If you have them, check-in your donated items with the event organizers
• Browse the swap tables and select items you can use
• Check-out your selected items with event organizers

Information icon Donated items must be in good, clean, working condition and be small enough to fit in a regular-sized reusable grocery bag.