Around the world, communities are pushing back against throwaway culture through Repair Cafés—free or low-cost events where volunteers help neighbors fix broken household items. Visitors bring lamps, small appliances, clothing, bikes, toys or electronics, and skilled volunteers offer tools, know-how and encouragement.

The first Repair Café opened in Amsterdam in 2009, founded by Martine Postma, who later created Repair Café International (RCI) to help other communities start their own programs. The movement has since spread globally, with thousands of local operations worldwide.

The impact is practical as well as environmental. RCI reported that more than 37,000 separate repair efforts were recorded in its RepairMonitor tool in 2024, with a 62 percent success rate. Each fixed toaster, jacket zipper or table lamp keeps one more item out of the waste stream and helps people save money. Just as important, these gatherings rebuild a skill many communities have lost: knowing how to mend or fix what matters instead of tossing it away.