The Derry City and Strabane District Council, together with Repair and Share Foyle, is encouraging the public to reduce their electrical waste during NI Repair Week. Organisers hope to spotlight the importance of repairing and reusing household electrical items rather than discarding them.
This collaborative effort forms part of the celebrations for NI Repair Week, which takes place from 3 to 9 March. Various events, workshops, and tutorials are being held across Northern Ireland to inspire individuals to learn new repair skills and keep electrical goods in use for longer.
Repair Week Activities and Advice
Locally, a repair café is scheduled for Saturday, 8 March at the Repair and Share Foyle Headquarters in Rathmore Business Park, from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. Items that can be repaired include small household electricals, laptops, textiles, leather goods, toys, sewing machines, and small pieces of furniture. A similar event was recently held in Strabane’s Fountain Centre with great success.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr, highlighted the growing need to address electrical waste, stating: “Electrical waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world. Many household items can be repaired or used for parts which keep them in use for longer rather than committing them to landfill.” She praised the local workshops, emphasising that learning to safely repair items benefits both the environment and household budgets.
Community-Led Repair and Reuse
Repair and Share Foyle, launched in 2022, operates with a volunteer-led ethos, striving to educate the community and share resources. Alongside their ‘Library of Things,’ the group accepts donations of small working household electricals, offering them to those in need through local community organisations. Managing Director Caroline McGuinness-Brooks said: “If you or someone in your community is in need of, say, a kettle, a lamp, a hoover, your local community organisation can make a request to us… if we have it in stock.”
Donated items can be dropped off at RathMor Business Park or at Repair Café events. Unwanted laptops are also collected from various drop-off points, including the Foyle Hospice Furniture Outlet, the Guildhall, Eglinton Community Centre, Waterside Shared Village, Strahans Road Recycling Centre, and the Alley Theatre. These devices are professionally wiped of data before being refurbished and fitted with new batteries or chargers.
Staying Informed and Getting Involved
Residents and community groups are encouraged to find out more about NI Repair Week initiatives and local repair events by visiting derrystrabane.com/repair. Anyone wishing to receive updates from Repair and Share Foyle can sign up to their e-newsletter via linktr.ee/repairandsharefoyle.
Conclusion
NI Repair Week provides an opportunity for individuals and communities to help reduce electrical waste and extend the life of household goods. Local businesses, community organisations, and residents alike are encouraged to support these repair initiatives, donating unwanted items, learning new skills, and helping to keep potentially useful products out of landfill.