The recent closures of the Salvation Army and free stores at Raven Recycling and the Whitehorse Waste Management Facility have made it difficult to source affordable used goods and to donate unwanted items. Without a local outlet for reuse, many of these items will end up being thrown out.
Zero Waste Yukon is working to keep these items out of the landfill by increasing access to repair opportunities, spreading knowledge about current reuse options and supporting those already incorporating reuse and repair into their work.
With these goals in mind, and building on the success of the Reuse and Repair Fair held this past June, Zero Waste Yukon is partnering with The Fireweed Community Market Society to host another Reuse and Repair Fair at the Fireweed Community Market on Thursday, August 24th. This will mark the start of the Fireweed Community Market’s “Go Green” initiative, and showcases the growing local commitment to waste reduction in the Yukon.
On August 24th, regular Thursday market events will be held alongside Zero Waste activities such as Zero Waste workshops, repair opportunities and local artisans selling their unique work made from previously used or recycled materials.
Local artist Helen O’Connor will be leading a recycled paper making workshop and Yukon artist Leslie Leong will be hosting an art workshop from on creating beautiful swans and geese out of repurposed milk jugs. Both of these workshops are free of charge and filled on a first come, first serve basis.
Zero Waste Yukon will show you how easy waste reduction can be by hosting a Zero Waste Lifestyle workshop, providing simple tools and tips to reducing waste in our everyday lives. We will also be conducting a public waste audit using waste created during the market to highlight how much of what is currently in our waste stream can be easily diverted through reuse, repair, recycling and composting.
Throughout the market there will be a special edition of the YuKonstruct Electronics Repair Café. Bring your broken electronics such as toasters, vacuums and other small home appliances and learn how to repair them for free with help from YuKonstruct! There will also be a free bicycle maintenance workshop hosted by Icycle Sport for those looking to learn how to keep their bikes on the road.
To top it all off, the Reuse and Repair Fireweed Community Market will also coincide with the launch of the Yukon Culinary Festival, and visitors will have the chance to watch a Game Meat Chef’s Competition. Local chefs will battle not only to see who creates the best original dish using local, in-season ingredients, but also who can create the least waste in their dish creation.
This special edition of the Fireweed Community Market will not only showcase the diverse local food producers and artisans in our communities, but it will also highlight many creative ideas and inspiring, attainable approaches to combating waste in the Yukon. As always it’s a family-friendly event, and there will be a kids’ activity table set up in the Zero Waste tent.
For more information or to register as a vendor, please contact [email protected].
Reuse and Repair Day at the Fireweed Community Market runs from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, August 24th at Shipyards Park.
