The first Launceston Repair Café will take place this weekend to return broken items to working order. Video by Aaron Smith (18/4/24)
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00:00 So it's basically really trying to lean into that repair economy, teaching people how to fix things instead of just throwing them away and buying new.
00:07 So we're really trying to encourage people to come in, bring their broken items, learn how to fix them.
00:11 It's not us doing it for them, but really just teaching them how to do it themselves where we can.
00:15 And getting people thinking about, rather than throwing something away and purchasing a cheap new product,
00:21 reviewing how we can maybe try and fix it, mend it, and keep that item in circulation for as long as possible.
00:27 There's so many things that can be fixed out there and I think people just don't realise.
00:31 Most people kind of go, "Oh no, it's broken, throw it out."
00:35 Especially in the appliance industry, you'd be amazed how many people just get rid of something as soon as it stops working.
00:41 And it could be something super simple.
00:44 And that half, most of the time, 90% of the time, it is something super simple.
00:48 So trying to change that attitude towards people as well, that's really high on my list.
00:54 For bikes, it's gears and brakes. And it's usually just a quick adjustment.
00:58 And it can be overwhelming for people to sort of get into that.
01:02 So we try and also teach them how to do it during the repair cafe.
01:06 There's no such thing as a bad bike.
01:08 All the old ones are fixable and rideable.
01:12 And people just don't give them the time that they deserve.
01:15 So we can get more old bikes working again, keep them out of landfill, and then keep everyone riding.
01:21 This is a really exciting and important initiative for the Council.
01:25 Particularly as it's a way for that sustainability, that circular economy, to keep things out of landfill.
01:31 But also we understand that we're in a bit of a housing squeeze and a cost of living crisis.
01:36 So if there's ways that people can come in here, they can register or they can walk in
01:40 and have something that they thought was broken or damaged fixed.
01:44 And that's a cost that's not going to occur into their household budget.
01:48 Or it's not something that they're going to have to find money for.
01:51 And like what the guys have been able to say, it's a way for people to also learn themselves
01:56 on how to fix and to make adjustments to their own lives when it comes to their appliances,
02:02 the textiles, and their bikes.
02:04 Keeps them active. And yeah, it's really important.
02:07 And it's a great way, a great sustainable way, of looking at how that stays out of the tip and the rubbish.
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