MIDDLEBURY — Got broken stuff? Instead of throwing it away, bring it to the Addison County Solid Waste Management District (ACSWMD) to the Repair Fair on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Hannaford Career Center.
The Repair Fair is a free event where skilled community members volunteer to help fix participants’ broken or damaged items. Fixers perform repairs on the spot or try to point attendees in the right direction if, for example, a specific replacement part is needed. The goal of the event is to keep things out of the landfill and reduce the need for buying new items while sharing skills, enthusiasm, and community connections to build a culture of repair.
ACSWMD has hosted three previous repair events with a total of over 200 attendees. The most popular items include appliances, clothing, bikes, lamps, furniture, and jewelry, with fixers troubleshooting many other unique items. Altogether, the volunteers have repaired over half of the 250 items brought to the events. At the last event alone, 286 pounds of stuff were kept out of the landfill by fixing things that would have otherwise been discarded.

Ollie Cultrara, ACSWMD’s AmeriCorps member, attributes the program’s continued success to the dedicated fixers: “Our volunteers generously give their time, expertise, and the use of their personal tools and supplies to help get participants’ belongings back in working order. We couldn’t offer this service without them.”
Due to the popularity of the event, ACSWMD is asking those interested in getting something repaired to register their item in advance at acswmd.org/repair- fair. In addition to getting things fixed, participants can enjoy free refreshments, connect with other community members and check out the Maker Faire being hosted by the Hannaford Career Center at the same time. Activities for kids are also provided.
For more information about the event, visit acswmd.org/repair- fair or contact Ollie Cultrara at [email protected] or 388-2333.