Somerset’s mobile reuse initiative – Fixy – has been recognised for its excellent work encouraging repair and reuse of broken electrical items across the county.

The project, which is managed by Resource Futures in partnership with Somerset Council and Donate IT, has been shortlisted for the Reuse Initiative of the Year category at the Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management. The awards ceremony will be taking place on 16 May 2024, when the winners are finally revealed.

Since Fixy’s launch in 2022, the bright blue van has become known for its efforts and achievements in promoting the repair and reuse of electricals and encouraging more sustainable lifestyles by supporting Somerset’s network of repair groups and offering a popular mobile ‘tech amnesty’ service.

We are particularly proud of Fixy’s performance in 2022/23:

• Attending over 80 events and engaging over 2,800 Somerset residents in conversations about repair and reuse of electricals.
• Receiving donations of 3,717 kg of smart tech items for reuse via the Fixy van and at ‘tech amnesty’ events.
• Supporting people in digital poverty by working with local community interest company Donate IT to refurbish and rehome collected smart tech items.
• Raising awareness of repair groups operating around the county and inspiring the set up of three new repair groups.

If this has inspired you to make small changes to make a big difference then join the Fixy van at one of the upcoming events across the county:

• Saturday 25 May, 10am-2pm: Fixy will be accepting reusable smart tech at Woolavington Village Hall, Higher Road, Woolavington, TA7 8DY. This is a partnership with a Woolavington Village Hall event designed to encourage all who live on Polden Ridge to consider the environment.
• Wednesday 29 May, 11am-2pm: Fixy will be joined by repairers from Wells Repair Cafe at Little Theatre, Chamberlain Street, Wells, BA5 2PS.
• Saturday 1 June: Fixy will be at Stoke St Gregory Envirofair, Williams Hall, Stoke St Gregory, TA3 6EU.
• Saturday 28 September: Fixy will be at the Taunton Town Council end-of-summer event.

Councillor Dixie Darch, Executive member for Environment and Climate, said:

We are very proud of the impact Fixy has had in Somerset and we are excited to see this expanding to wider areas as the project continues to progress. Fixy is helping Somerset become greener and more sustainable one repair at a time. Thank you to our team and keep up the great work.”

For more information about Somerset’s thriving network of repair cafes – including details of forthcoming sessions where you can take broken items for fixing – visit the Council’s Repair network webpage.

The Fixy project is managed by Resource Futures, in partnership with Somerset Council and Donate IT. Its pilot phase was funded by The Ecosurety Exploration Fund until March 2023, and funding is currently provided by Material Focus, the not-for-profit organisation leading the Recycle Your Electricals campaign.

For more information, visit the Council’s Fixy webpage.