The saying goes that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” You can make it true…or not.
If you could repair those broken items sitting around your house, would you? If you learned another way to use things, would you? County officials hope you would and they are planning a fair to show you just how to do it.
A Reuse and Repair Fair and Recycling Event will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1855 Main Street in Ramona (close to the Ramona Farmer’s Market).
Some local experts will be on hand to demonstrate how to repair bicycles, household items, clothes and many other items you might be thinking about getting rid of. Others will be there to show you how to repurpose old items and create functional items such as gifts and art.
The goal is to give old items an entirely new life.
“We want to show people they don’t have to buy new items. They can repair them,” said Jennifer Winfrey, recycling specialist with County Public Works, who organized the fair, the County’s first.
“The goal is to reduce waste by learning how to repair and reuse things,” stated Winfrey.
During the four-hour fair, residents can learn to sew or repair clothes by hand or machine, as well as how to repair furniture, household appliances or other equipment. Representatives from Home Depot will be on hand to show you how to reduce your gas and heating bills this winter during a 90-minute workshop on home watherization.
If you’re not sure whether you still want those questionable items in your house, Ramona’s own Tuesday Nights Artists’ Group can show you how to turn them into recycled art or crafts or other funcional items.
“You can do all kinds of things,” said Winfrey, adding that more reuse and repair fairs are being planned “People are doing beautiful things with old stuff.”
But if you are absolutely conviced you don’t want them, you may donate reusable items like clothing, furniture, and working electronics, as well as nonperishable food items to the Ramona Foods and Clothes Closet, Inc. The thrift store will sell them or donate them to needy families in the area.
Residents may drop off waste tires for recycling, paper for shredding, and appliances, scrap metals, and green waste for no fee at Ramona High School’s parking lot located at 1401 Hanson Lane in Ramona. Residents will also be able to pickup free mulch at that location.
Please call 1-877-713-2784 to make arrangements to drop off tires with rims or loads of more than nine tires and for information on how to dispose of appliances. For more information on the Reuse and Repair Fair and Recycling Event, call Jennifer at (858) 694-2463.
