“Arréglatelas - Hemen Konpon - Manage yourself” self-repair garage

By project WEEEWaste

Published on 16 December 2024

Spain

Comunidad Foral de Navarra

Pamplona

About this good practice

WASTE PREVENTION is the first option established by the European Directive 2008/98/EC: consuming and producing less and more responsibly, thus reducing waste generated.

Along these lines of waste prevention, “Manage yourself” self-repair workshop has been included in the new public procurement contract with the Commonwealth of the Region of Pamplona since 2018.

In this way, this self-repair workshop is part of the current contract between Traperos de Emaús Navarra and the Commonwealth of the Region of Pamplona (2023-2028).

The workshop opened its doors in October 2015 with different areas of carpentry, mechanical electricity and bikes. Anyone can access it in the morning and afternoon, from Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 13:30 and 16:00 to 19:30h, to repair their small appliances and objects and/or recycle others with their own aesthetics using, if necessary, spare parts or materials from other waste. This service is free of charge.

More than 2,600 users pass through the garage each year, which is 8-10 people a day. The most demanded part is carpentry (41%), followed by bikes repair (33%). Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) repairs amount to 4%.

Users come mostly from the area the Region of Pamplona, especially from the municipality of Berriozar (27%).

Resources needed

3 technicians from Monday to Saturday (298 days/year)
Space: 96 m2
Staff cost plus tools budget: 104.708,92 €/year through a local public contract

Evidence of success

In 2023, 2652 users of the workshop, of which:
• 877 bikes repairs
• 111 WEEE repairs
• 1093 furniture/carpentry repairs
• 571 mechanical repairs and others
131 tools loans for repairs outside the facilities.

Potential for learning or transfer

This workshop is a space that could be replicated in other towns/neighborhoods of any city. It does not require large infrastructure nor knowledge to set up or maintain it.
In Catalunia there are similar initiatives previous to this one.

This service awareness citizens the possibility to repair objects for extending its use of life, promoting the prevention of waste. This is an interesting measure taken from a local entity to boost the first step of the waste hierarchy.