Solder-darity forever: how ‘fixit’ clubs are helping Americans save money and make new friends
Summary
Fixit Clinics are volunteer-run places where people in the U.S. bring broken items like clothes and electronics to get help fixing them. These clinics support community connections, reduce waste, and push for laws that make products easier to repair.Key Facts
- Fixit Clinics are open to anyone who wants to repair broken items, often held in public spaces like libraries and community centers.
- There have been around 2,000 Fixit Clinics hosted across the U.S., with similar community repair events also growing.
- The Repair cafe, a similar idea from Amsterdam, has about 250 locations in the U.S. now.
- Since 2012, 24 states have passed right-to-repair laws requiring manufacturers to make products easier to fix.
- In 2024, 57 right-to-repair bills were introduced in 22 states to improve repair access for devices like phones and wheelchairs.
- A federal bill called the Repair Act has been introduced to give more repair rights but has not yet been voted on by the full House.
- In 2024, public pressure led to a copyright exemption for fixing McFlurry machines, allowing repairs by third parties.
- Repair efforts aim to reduce waste and challenge the practice of companies making products hard to fix to encourage new purchases.
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