Thurston County Solid Waste and Lacey MakerSpace are hosting the Fix-it-Fair on November 20, 2024, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Lacey MakerSpace on the St. Martin's University Campus.
The community-driven event invites residents to bring their broken items for skilled volunteers to repair and promote a culture of environmental responsibility and sustainability.
At the Fix-it-Fair, community members can bring various items, including toasters, jewelry, clothing, bicycles, and lamps, to be diagnosed with issues or to be mended.
Some items require a reservation for repair. Click here to make a reservation.
By participating, individuals can enjoy the dual advantages of financial savings while simultaneously advancing their skills in repairs — a step closer to a more sustainable lifestyle!
National waste statistics reveal a growing crisis, and events like the Fix-it-Fair are essential to addressing the issue.
In 2018, the United States generated 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW), which averages about 4.9 pounds per person per day. Only 32.1% of this waste was recycled or composted, with over 146 million tons—nearly 50%—ending up in landfills.
The Fix-it-Fair seeks to reverse the waste trend by empowering individuals to repair rather than discard their possessions. Thurston County Solid Waste manages the county's trash and oversees its safe processing and disposal.
Since 2012, the county's waste has grown yearly, except in 2023, when about 227,000 tons of trash were produced, averaging 1,500 pounds per person.
In 2023, only around 57,000 tons—or 20%—of this waste was recycled, which equals roughly 378 pounds of recycling per resident.
Thurston County encourages all community members to participate in the Fix-it-Fair, take advantage of free repair services, and contribute to ongoing local environmental efforts by fostering a sustainable and waste-conscious community.
Interested in making a difference? Thurston County is actively seeking volunteers who are skilled in fixing the following items:
To join as a volunteer or to bring an item for repair, visit thurstonsolidwaste.org/fixit for event details and registration, or call (360) 867-2491. For more information, please visit the Thurston County Fix-it Fair.
2 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
TomBoucher
As a long-time member of Lacey MakerSpace, I can vouch for the wizardry of these folks! Bring it on! (And remember that you can get a free month's membership to the most amazing 21st century tools with a Timberland library card.)
Friday, November 1 Report this
KatAshe
I’m old enough to remember when the Goodwill trained people to repair items so donated items could be sold in their stores. It was a win, win.
Friday, November 1 Report this