The Solid Waste Advisory Committee will host its second Repair Café on Saturday, April 11.

The event will take place at the Senior Center from 9 a.m. to noon. Residents are encouraged to bring small, portable items, like clothing or small for a volunteer repair experts take a look. Repairs are free of charge but not guaranteed.

“We even have a plant consultant this time,” said Member Alix Smullin.

Appointments are required. Residents can sign up online or call the Senior Center at 781-596-8866 to book. 

Repair Cafés began in 2009, when a Dutch journalist introduced the idea in Amsterdam to promote sustainability at the local level. In 2010, a foundation was established to help local groups around the world create their own Repair Cafés. Since then, the idea has spread, with more than 2,000 Repair Cafés held worldwide as of a 2021 estimate by the foundation.

The Solid Waste Advisory Committee hosted a similar event in October, when seven appliance/electronics fixers and five textile/clothing repairers were tasked with helping about 25 people. 

People brought lamps, clocks, coffee makers, paper shredders, pencil sharpeners, mini-fridges, drones, pants, jackets, sweatshirts, infant overalls, chair bags and shoulder bags, according to Smullin.  Many items were repaired and in other cases, people got helpful advice on whether the items could be repaired and if so how. 

“Everyone was very satisfied with their experience even if their item did not get fixed,” Smullin said.