COQUITLAM, B.C., September 10, 2025 — Got a broken zipper, a lamp that won't light or a bike with a flat tire? Bring it to Coquitlam’s fall Repair Café, where skilled volunteers can help you fix common household items — and keep them out of the landfill.

Drop by Dogwood Pavilion (1655 Winslow Avenue, Mike Butler Room) on Saturday, October 4 between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your item in need of repair, and you’ll work alongside volunteers to learn how to fix it yourself — gaining a skill, saving money and reducing waste.

Fix-it stations include:

• Bike tune-ups — adjusting brakes and gears, inflating tires, fixing flat tubes, chain maintenance and tightening loose parts
• Electronics troubleshooting — radios, fans, lamps and more
• Textiles and clothing — patching, zipper fixes
• Small appliances — kettles, toasters, blenders
• Furniture repairs — wobbly chairs, loose legs or sticky drawers

If your item requires specific parts, please bring them with you. We can take one item at a time and a second item may be considered if time permits. We cannot accept items after 1:30 p.m.

At our last Repair Café which focused on bicycles, volunteers helped more than 60 residents get their bikes rolling again, including a child who got their training wheels off and was later seen riding successfully without them.

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

Become a Repair Café Volunteer

Repair Cafés are community-powered events where skilled volunteers fix broken items while offering participants a hands-on learning experience. These gatherings foster connections, promote sustainability, and help reduce waste.

The City is always looking for skilled volunteers to lend their expertise. You can join Coquitlam’s growing community of over 65 dedicated Repair Café volunteers by filling out a volunteer form at coquitlam.ca/RepairCafe.

Reduce Waste, Support Sustainability

Coquitlam supports a circular economy and encourages residents to participate. A circular economy aims to minimize waste by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. This includes choosing durable and repairable items, reusing materials and participating in initiatives like Repair Cafés. This sustainable approach helps address climate change by reducing emissions tied to product manufacturing, use, and disposal.

Coquitlam offers a range of tools for residents to reduce waste and embrace sustainable practices.

• City-Wide Garage Sale and Giveaway Event: Held twice a year in the spring and fall, this event helps residents give unused items a new home and keep them out of the landfill. Learn more at coquitlam.ca/GarageSale. 
• Donation Options: Find local organizations and drop-off locations in our Guide to Donating Locally.
• Recycling Options: In addition to curbside recycling, residents can use the United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre and other local recycling facilities. Learn more at coquitlam.ca/Recycling.
• Waste Wizard Tool: Unsure how to dispose of something? Use the Waste Wizard to find donation or recycling options 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 October 6, large electronic items will now be accepted. Learn more at coquitlam.ca/LIPU.
• Composting Resources: The City offers backyard composters at a subsidized price of $25 plus tax. Learn more at coquitlam.ca/WasteReduction.

Media contact: 
Julie Kanya
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.