Good for the environment, good for the wallet

Campus Recycling and the Student Sustainability Initiative (SSI) held their first Repair Fair in 2013 on Monday. This monthly event is aimed towards helping students save money and natural resources while teaching them how to repair their broken items instead of buying new ones. The event was held as a part of RecycleMania 2013, an annual recycling competition held between universities nation-wide.

Members from a student-volunteer group known as the Waste Watchers were on hand at the event to repair many items high on a college student’s list of priorities, such as small appliances, bicycles, clothing, computers, electronics, housewares and jewelry.

Campus Recycling Outreach and Events Coordinator Andrea Norris believes the events put on by Campus Recycling and the SSI can be very beneficial to students, as well as helping out the environment.

“A lot of what we have to offer is not simply events, but services we provide to students,” Norris said. “For example, the Repair Fairs offer free repairs to anyone who brings in his/her broken items.”

Freshman biology major Kyle Reed is a regular volunteer for the Waste Watchers committee, and although this area is not directly related to his field of study, his interest in helping the environment is deeply rooted.

“I was always involved with my high school eco-club,” Reed said. “I just decided to continue that involvement here. I mean, why not?”

Repair Fair-goers state the most important thing to remember is to always try and bring a broken item in to be fixed. More often than not, volunteers are able to repair something for free that students would usually take straight to the dump. Some of the items being repaired at Monday’s fair include an iHome, a toaster oven, a countless number of bikes, and a couple pairs of jeans.

“I would definitely recommend [the Repair Fair] to friends, said Robin Jenkins, a zoology major. “I got my stuff fixed and the best part is that it’s free.”

Jenkins brought two of her favorite old pairs of jeans in to get fixed, and was able to leave with the satisfaction that she would not have to spend any money buying new pairs.

The next Repair Fair will be held near the end of February, and they will continue to run each month until the end of the academic year.

Although spare parts cannot be supplied for missing or non-repairable pieces, Repair Fair staff will be able to give information on where parts can be found and purchased elsewhere. In addition, volunteers will also be on deck to help with any part installations possible.

Students who have a broader interest in sustainability efforts at OSU are encouraged to get involved with the Waste Watchers, Campus Recycling or the SSI. More information can be found on the Oregon State Recycling website at www.recycle.oregonstate.edu.

Lara von Linsowe-Wilson, news reporter
news@dailybarometer.com