Fixing Factory project hits London streets to reduce electrical waste and bolster repair skills

A new project has launched across London that is aiming to reduce electrical waste and empower people to get more out of the products they buy. The Fixing Factory project opened its first site in Brent this Saturday with another imminently on its way in Camden.

The Fixing Factory in Brent, which opened on Saturday 23 April, will be repairing the broken laptops, desktops and tablets of local residents which would otherwise be incinerated or sent to landfill, and then returning them to people in the community who need access, in an effort to reduce the “digital divide”.Both Fixing Factories will also be providing opportunities for local residents to learn about electronic repair.

The Brent Fixing Factory is situated at the award winning Abbey Road Household Reuse & Recycling Centre and is the UK’s first ‘Fixing Factory’ at a recycling centre. It is managed by a consortium of organisations led by the Restart Project and the West London Waste Authority.

Today’s launch was attended by Cllr Krupa Sheth, as well as representatives from a number of local stakeholders, youth groups and community groups. Attendees celebrated the grand opening of the Fixing Factory, and took part in some hands-on fixing, along with hearing speeches from key partners.

The second Fixing Factory will be managed by The Restart Project and climate charity Possible; the project is part of Possible's 'Ten Bold Ideas' for climate action in the 2020s. The project is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund for one year.

Repairing, reusing and recycling is going to be a vital tool in addressing climate change with centres dedicated to these practices creating up to ten times the jobs compared to disposal sites. 80% of all broken electricals could actually be repaired at community events, with the help of volunteers. As the average laptop generates up to 420kg of carbon emissions, making efforts to repair and reuse tech will not only save consumers money but will reduce emissions and help tackle climate change.

Fiona Dear, Co-Director of the Restart Project, said:

“It’s so exciting to be opening the Brent Fixing Factory, which will help us to move away from our throwaway economy. Repair and reuse of our electronics is so important not just for the environment, but it can also save people money. With the Fixing Factory, we’ll open up the world of repair for all to see, encourage donation of unwanted devices for refurbishment so that they can change the lives of those without digital access, and we’ll help people gain valuable new repair skills. This is an important step towards bringing repair back and giving our devices a new lease of life.”

Tom Beagan, Head of Service Delivery at West London Waste Authority, said:

 “This groundbreaking collaboration is a big milestone in the shift from a linear to a circular economy in west London. By bringing together community sector partners at this award winning HRRC, west London’s residents have a new opportunity to give their broken items a new lease of life whilst developing valuable green skills in the local area at the same time.“

Dermot Jones, Fixing Factories Camden project manager for climate charity Possible, said:

“We’re thrilled to be able to finally share this project with London. Electrical waste and the relentless flow of new electronic products on the market is indicative of a huge problem facing the climate - overconsumption. It’s vital that local communities have a hub that can help them prolong the life of their electricals and teach them longstanding skills that will ensure that instead of throwing away their laptop or toaster and buying a new one, they feel empowered, motivated and refreshed by the possibilities that lie in the world of repair.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For media enquiries and further information please contact press@wearepossible.org or 07806431577.

The Brent Fixing Factory is opening on Saturday 23 April between 1000am and 1200pm. There will be a photo opportunity at 1015am. The Fixing Factory will be located in Abbey Road Household Reuse & Recycling Centre, NW10 7TJ.

  • Representatives from WLWA, Restart and Possible are available for comment in person at the launch, and ahead of the event Please contact press@wearepossible.org for more information.

  • West London Waste Authority (WLWA) is a statutory joint waste disposal authority, created in 1986. WLWA is responsible for disposing of waste collected by the London Boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames. Over 1.7 million people live in this area, which covers 38,000 hectares. The award winning Abbey Road Reuse & Recycling Centre is run by West London Waste on behalf of Brent Council.

  • The Restart Project helps people learn how to repair their broken electronics, and rethink how they consume them in the first place. We run regular Restart Parties for hands-on repair, campaign for a Right to Repair so that all products are made to be repaired and reused and have developed a London repair directory for reliable repair shops.  TheRestartProject.org

  • Possible is a UK-based charity that brings people together to take positive, practical action on climate change. Combining individual and local actions with larger systemic change, we connect people with each other, and communities with ways to address the climate crisis. wearepossible.org.

  • Possible changed its name from 10:10 Climate Action on 10th October 2019.

Alex Killeen