‘Mend It and Keep It Alive’: Inside Vermont’s Growing Repair Culture
ReuseVT and local repair cafes aim to cut landfill waste as Vermont generates about 912,180 tons annually, state officials said.
- Every third Saturday, volunteers gather at the Old North End Repair Cafe in Burlington to fix broken belongings, supported by ReuseVT, a state-funded directory connecting residents with repair services and resources.
- Trav Fryer, who runs the Old North End Repair Cafe, traces repair culture to Vermont's agricultural heritage, noting that "Farmers have to fix things themselves" to sustain their livelihoods and foster self-sufficiency.
- Susan Alexander, director of ReuseVT, identifies economic barriers as a core obstacle, noting that repair costs can exceed replacement prices—a $35 repair versus a $27 online toaster purchase creates a "hard barrier."
- Beyond waste reduction, organizations like ReSource Vermont and Generator foster community while teaching repair skills including woodworking, with volunteer Ali Hamedani describing the cafe as a "wonderful community of friends."
- Vermont generates about 912,180 tons of waste annually, prompting state efforts to prioritize reduction over recycling; Alexander hopes the movement will expand to include annual gatherings dedicated entirely to reused and repaired goods.
9 Articles
9 Articles
‘Mend it and keep it alive’: Inside Vermont’s growing repair culture - The Mexico Ledger
Simone Traynor is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program. Every third Saturday in Burlington’s Old North End, volunteers come together to fix one another’s broken belongings, eat bagels and do something good for the environment. Everyone has a role. At a recent session of the Old North End Repair Cafe, one volunteer greeted everyone, another sewed and repaired …
‘Mend it and keep it alive’: Inside Vermont’s growing repair culture - Seward Independent
Simone Traynor is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program. Every third Saturday in Burlington’s Old North End, volunteers come together to fix one another’s broken belongings, eat bagels and do something good for the environment. Everyone has a role. At a recent session of the Old North End Repair Cafe, one volunteer greeted everyone, another sewed and repaired …
‘Mend it and keep it alive’: Inside Vermont’s growing repair culture
A sign outside the Old North End Repair Cafe. Photo by Simone Traynor/Community News Service Simone Traynor is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program. Every third Saturday in Burlington’s Old North End, volunteers come together to fix one another’s broken belongings, eat bagels and do something good for the environment. Everyone has a role. At a recent session …
‘Mend it and keep it alive’: Inside Vermont’s growing repair culture - Stateline Publications
Simone Traynor is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program. Every third Saturday in Burlington’s Old North End, volunteers come together to fix one another’s broken belongings, eat bagels and do something good for the environment. Everyone has a role. At a recent session of the Old North End Repair Cafe, one volunteer greeted everyone, another sewed and repaired …
‘Mend it and keep it alive’: Inside Vermont’s growing repair culture - Hillsboro Sentry Enterprise
Simone Traynor is a reporter with the Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program. Every third Saturday in Burlington’s Old North End, volunteers come together to fix one another’s broken belongings, eat bagels and do something good for the environment. Everyone has a role. At a recent session of the Old North End Repair Cafe, one volunteer greeted everyone, another sewed and repaired …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 83% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
