Tampa City Staff to Repair Resident Items at Free Workshop
City of Tampa employees will help fix broken household goods at a one-day event at City Center on Hanna Avenue.
By Layla Petrov ·
The City of Tampa will host its first community repair workshop on October 30 to help residents fix broken household items. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Center at Hanna Avenue. Participation is free, but residents must register in advance and bring a photo ID.
City employees from the Solid Waste and Logistics and Asset Management departments will lead the repairs. These staff members maintain municipal buildings and handle electrical and plumbing work. Their hands-on experience allows them to troubleshoot common household problems. Each resident may bring one item to the workshop. Registration is subject to a case-by-case review of the item's safety and suitability.
The initiative aims to extend the life of household goods and reduce waste entering the city's Waste-to-Energy facility. Tessa Coulter, the Recycling Coordinator, stated that repair is a highly effective method for waste reduction. She noted that the event helps residents save money and keep usable items out of the trash stream.
Residents can bring specific items for repair. Accepted objects include lamps, fans, small kitchen gadgets, hand tools, clocks, vacuums, toasters, small appliances, toys, and furniture that fits inside the building. Bicycles are also eligible for flat tire, gear, or brake adjustments. The city will not repair complex electronics like smartphones or computers, CRT televisions, gas-powered appliances, medical devices, or weapons. Recalled items and pressurized systems are also prohibited.
The repair workshop concept began in Amsterdam in 2009. Martine Postma created the original model. The idea spread globally, and workshops fixed nearly 25,000 items worldwide in 2024. Tampa’s program follows this established format, pairing city expertise with resident needs.
Participants must be City of Tampa residents to attend. The city will confirm repairs based on the condition of the item brought to the site. Not all items are guaranteed to be fixed. Registration details and a list of accepted items are available at tampa.gov/repair.
