A new Online Repair Directory has launched across participating local authorities in Wales, offering members of the public details on where they can locate repair shops to fix broken electronic items, bicycles, clothing, furniture, and other equipment.
As a successful recipient of the Welsh Government’s Circular Economy fund, the Repair Directory was developed by lead Council, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, working with Resource Efficiency Wales and The Restart Project.
As per the original London based Repair Directory, the user can input their postcode/area into the online platform, along with other selectable criteria – i.e. the item to be repaired, plus the distance they are willing to travel – and repair shops will be displayed on a map (with address, contact details).
This is a game changer – the Repair Directory provides a basis for promotion of inherent behaviour change, driving repair and extending the useable life of products that would otherwise be discarded – it may even save users a few pennies too!
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s Corporate Director of Regeneration and Community Services, Richard Crook said: “We are delighted to work collaboratively with our partners to enable the development of such an essential tool in the drive to achieve a Circular Economy. This will be the first Repair Directory of its kind in Wales.”
Ugo Vallauri, Co-founder and Policy Lead, The Restart Project said: “Searching for a reliable repair business can be time-consuming and often frustrating – the Repair Directory aims to make it easier, and to grow the repair economy in the process. This is a fantastic move for Wales, and we are so pleased to be involved!”
Preventing waste
Sharing this information enables members of the public to avoid their items from becoming a waste and will extend the lives of otherwise disused products.
This provides an essential part of the desire to build a Circular Economy in Wales and encourages the public to consider options available to them at the top of the waste hierarchy.
The aim is that the Repair Directory will signpost people to reliable repair businesses and will hopefully increase the uptake of repair in the community.
James Kay, Regional Waste Co-ordinator, Resource Efficiency Wales said: “This is a game changer – the Repair Directory provides a basis for promotion of inherent behaviour change, driving repair and extending the useable life of products that would otherwise be discarded – it may even save users a few pennies too!
“The local authorities group has a history of innovative and ground-breaking initiatives and we look forward to seeing this latest idea to drive Wales’ Circular Economy becoming a success.”
The Repair Directory, coupled with other Welsh Government funded Local Authority led projects to develop and / or support repair shops / events, provides a platform for promoting these outlets and will be key in providing the communications and advertising required to achieving the footfall needed to make a difference.