Reuse & Repair Café
Reuse & Repair Cafe: A Circular Celebration!
October is Circular Economy Month and to mark the occasion Environmental Programs is partnering with the Richmond Cultural Centre for a Reuse & Repair Café: Circular Celebration!
Richmond supports a circular economy by encouraging residents to use, reuse or repair and recycle items multiple times to help reduce waste and reliance on natural resources.
October’s event at the Cultural Centre will provide repair services from experts, repair skill-building for those who want to learn well as a reuse section to swap/drop/take gently used household items. .
Richmond Cultural Centre
7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond BC
10:00am - 2:00pm
Repairing clothing, small appliances & Christmas lights
Drop-In Workshops
How to Use a Sewing Machine
1:30pm / 2:10pm / 2:50pm / 3:30pm
Build confidence using a sewing machine in this mini workshop. Learn basic sewing machine operation and practice stiches. Supplies included. Sewing machine and equipment provided. No experience or pre-registration required.
Sessions are 30 minutes. First come, first served. Maximum 4 participants per session.
Mend + Make It Your Own
10:30am - 2:00pm
Transform and extend the life of clothing through creative mending, embellishment and alterations. Explore techniques such as patching, darning, hemming and reshaping garments for a personalized fit. Perfect for those looking to refresh their wardrobe sustainably. Bring garments, fabric, thread and notions. Equipment provided each session. No experience or pre-registration required.
Drop-in. Maximum 10 participants at a time.
For questions about the workshops contact: garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca
Upcoming Reuse & Repair Cafes
Reuse Information
Let's reuse to reduce waste. You’re invited to drop-off small, clean items, in good working order.
Swap it - drop-off items for others to choose from and pick out new-to-you items.
Leave it - leave items, without taking anything new
Take it - everyone is welcome to take items
| Accepted Items |
| Clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, bags, backpacks |
| Books, CDs, DVDs, Blue-ray discs |
| Computers, laptops, monitors, video game systems |
| Toys |
| Small appliances (hair dryer, blender, etc.) |
Not sure if your item is Reuse ready? Contact garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca or call 604-276-4010 to inquire.
Reuse Event FAQs
No registration is required for the Reuse Event, drop in anytime between 10:00a.m. and 2:00p.m.. However if you're also looking to have an item repaired we recommend booking a Repair Fair appointment
How many items can I bring and how many can I take?
You may bring a maximum of 5 items from the accepted list and each item must fit into a reusable shopping bag. Items that are bigger than the size of reusable shopping bag will not be accepted. You are welcome to take as many items you like.
Do I need to bring items to participate in the event?
No you are more than welcome to participate in the event and take items that you will use.
Can I bring older items that I no longer use?
We ask that you bring items that are gently used and in working order if not new. Old, worn and damaged clothing/shoes/bags will not be accepted. All appliances, electronics and toys must be in working condition. Please check before bringing these items.
Do clothes need to be washed?
Yes please wash any clothes and make sure there are no stains or damage to the clothing. Excessively worn out and damaged clothing will not be accepted.
Am I allowed to just bring items instead of swapping items?
Yes we will be accepting items and there is no requirement to swap items.
Will there be a fitting area to try on clothes?
We do not have a dedicated fitting area to try on clothing items however the Community Hall does have bathrooms you can use to make sure an item fits before taking it.
I’m unsure if the items I am looking to bring can be accepted, what should I do?
If you’d like assistance assessing if your item is suitable please contact garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca or call 604-276-4010 to inquire. The City has the right to refuse items that do not meet the criteria for quality and acceptable material.
No Warranty and Limitation of Liability
Follow Environmental Programs Eventbrite to receive a notification when bookings open.
We're always looking to expand our repair services. If you're an expert or hobbyist in fixing clothing/textile, small appliances, furniture, lawnmowers, jewelry or bicycles, please
contact Environmental Programs at garbageandrecycling@richmond.ca