Vermont residents embrace repair culture to reduce waste

A growing repair culture is emerging in Vermont as residents seek to reduce waste and combat overconsumption. In Burlington’s Old North End, volunteers gather monthly at the Old North End Repair Cafe to fix broken belongings, ranging from textiles to various household items, for free.

This movement addresses a significant environmental challenge; according to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources 2024 Diversion and Disposal Report, the state generates approximately 912,180 tons of waste annually, much of which ends up in landfills despite existing recycling programs.

To support these efforts, a new state-funded program called ReuseVT has been launched. The program provides a directory to connect Vermonters with repair cafes, local businesses, nonprofits offering repair services, and libraries that loan out various items to help residents maintain and renew their belongings.