COQUITLAM, B.C., September 8, 2026 – Coquitlam residents can bring common household items in need of a fix to the fall edition of Repair Café on October 10 at Maillardville Community Centre.

The upcoming event marks the three-year anniversary of the opening of Repair Café in Coquitlam. To date, over 650 items have been repaired by dedicated and skilled volunteers, keeping them in circulation and out of the landfill.

Reduce Waste and Learn a New Skill
It’s recommended to book an appointment to ensure your item gets looked at, or you can also drop by Maillardville Community Centre (1200 Cartier Avenue) on a first come, first serve basis between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. This is a great opportunity to learn how to fix items, gain a skill, save money and reduce waste that would otherwise end up in the garbage.

Examples of repairs include:

• Bike tune-ups – adjusting brakes and gears, inflating tires, fixing flat tubes, chain maintenance and tightening loose parts
• Electronics troubleshooting – radios, fans, lamps 
• Textiles and clothing – patching, zipper fixes 
• Small home appliances – kettles, toasters, blenders, coffee machines
• Furniture repairs – loose legs on chairs or sticky drawers
• Computers – desktops, laptops, external devices, tech support for software

If items requires specific parts, it is recommended that they are brought along with the item as parts are not supplied. The Repair Café can take one item per person at a time and a second item may be considered if time permits. Items are not accepted after 1:30 p.m.

This popular event is part skill-sharing workshop, part community get-together and a great way to extend the life of everyday use items. For full details, visit coquitlam.ca/RepairCafe.

New Repair Café Partnership

New for 2026, the City has started working with the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) - a charitable organization focused on practical solutions in sustainable food systems, zero waste, renewable energy, and green transportation. They have come on board as a host organization to run Repair Cafés, bringing with them experience from three years of coordinating Repair Cafés in Vancouver. Learn more at spec.bc.ca. 

Reduce Waste, Support Sustainability

Coquitlam supports a circular economy and encourages residents to do their part whenever and wherever they can. The aim of a circular economy is to keep products and materials in use for as long as possible in order to minimize what’s going into the landfill. This includes choosing durable and repairable items, reusing materials and participating in local initiatives like Repair Cafés. By taking this sustainable approach, we can all help address climate change by reducing emissions tied to the manufacturing, use, and disposal of products. 

Coquitlam residents can take part the City’s range of tools and programs to help reduce waste and embrace sustainable practices, such as:

• City-Wide Garage Sale and Giveaway Event: This twice a year event happens in the spring and fall. It helps residents give unused items a new home and keep them out of the landfill. The next one is set for September 19 and 20. Learn more at coquitlam.ca/GarageSale.
• Donation Options: Explore local organizations and drop-off locations in our Guide to Donating Locally.
• Recycling Options: Take advantage of curbside recycling at home as well as the United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre and other local recycling facilities. Learn more at coquitlam.ca/Recycling.
• Waste Wizard Tool: Use this tool to find donation or recycling options for a variety of household items at coquitlam.ca/WasteWizard.
• Curbside Collection App: Stay informed on waste collection days, receive waste-reduction tips, and get notifications for special programs like the Seasonal Unlimited Yard Trimmings collection by downloading the Coquitlam Curbside Collection app.
• Large Item Pick-up: Residents who receive the City’s curbside collection service can have up to four large household items collected each year. Starting in 2025, large electronic items are now accepted. Learn more at coquitlam.ca/LIPU. 
• Composting Resources: Buy a backyard composter from the City at a subsidized price of $25 plus tax. Learn more at coquitlam.ca/WasteReduction.

Media contact:
Angela Yeung
Environmental Education and Enforcement Manager
epw@coquitlam.ca
604-927-3500 

We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum), meaning “Red Fish Up the River.” The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee) and other Coast Salish Peoples.