Oregon State University
IN-1: Innovation 1

Repair Fairs are a twice-per-term event series starting in this FY13 performance year. At these events attendees can bring their broken belongings and receive assistance from volunteers in repairing them at no charge. Both volunteers and attendees are a mix of students, staff and community members. In addition to learning/observing how to repair their belongings, the event offers demonstrations that teach attendees do-it-yourself skills in repair, waste reduction, or other aspects of sustainable living. This event engages people in sustainability by providing the services and skills to repair rather than discard and buy new and empowers volunteers and attendees to reduce waste well beyond the conclusion of the event. It also bridges the divide between OSU and the off-campus community. Repair Fairs started in the FY13 performance year, and were held Oct. 2012, Nov. 2012, Jan. 2013, Feb. 2013, Apr. 2013 and May 2013 (and continued into FY14). The event series is sponsored by the student group Waste Watchers, a joint group of Campus Recycling and the Student Sustainability Initiative.

Based on event survey results (and estimates for the fairs at which surveys were not administered), in the FY13 performance year we estimate a total attendance of 200 people for the 6 fairs (an average of 17 people served per hour). For fairs that offered demos (3 per fair), we estimate attendance at each to be an average of 9 people. Across all the fairs, one-third to one-half of attendees were students, 10-20% were OSU staff and the remainder were community members. We estimate that over 200 items were brought and on average 74% were fixed, meaning at least 150 items were fixed in FY13. These fixed items presumably received more use, discouraging the discarding and purchasing of new items.