By Emily Price

Repair Efficiency Wales launched today urging people to stop throwing broken items away but to get them repaired instead. 

The Repair Directory covers 14 local authority areas and hopes to grow the repair economy and stop people being so wasteful.

People looking to get an item repaired can source a reliable repair business on the website, giving a second chance to much loved belongings that would have otherwise ended up at the tip.

James Kay is the regional waste coordinator at Resource Efficiency Wales and thinks the repair directory will signpost people to reliable repair businesses that can give worn out items another chance.

James said: “The Repair Directory has been produced under the expert guidance by the Restart Project in collaboration with Resource Efficiency Wales and Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. 

“By preventing things becoming waste and keeping them in use for longer, it’s one of the best ways to reduce overall carbon emissions.

“Essentially, if we are consuming less things in the first place and repairing items that can be repaired then those things will remain in use for longer.

Cardiff Council is one of the 14 local authorities involved and aims to reduce, reuse and recycle as much waste as possible. 

A spokesperson said: “This initiative is an excellent way of finding a business that can repair an item, rather than throwing it away and we are pleased to be involved with the scheme.” 

As fly tipping has worsened during the Coronavirus pandemic, it seems that many broken items end up being dumped. 

Gareth Pearson is a volunteer litter picker in Merthyr Tydfil who all too often comes across items that have been discarded because they no longer work. 

Gareth said: “Microwaves, televisions, bikes, I’ve seen it all. Most of the time it’s because the things are broken, and people have given up on them

“This new repair directory is a fantastic idea. It will give people the option to get something repaired instead of it being thrown away or taken to the tip.”For more information on getting a repair visit repairefficiencywales.co.uk