Roxbury Repair Café, October 17th
A Community Approach to Reducing Waste: Roxbury Repair Café, October 17th
Repairing an item rather than replacing it can save money, conserve resources, and keep useful materials out of the waste stream. On Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, community members can put that idea into practice at the free Roxbury Repair Café at Roxbury Fire Company No. 2, 110 Shippenport Road in Landing. The event brings together local residents and volunteer fixers for an afternoon of repairs, shared skills, and community connection and is a collaborative effort between the Roxbury Public Library, the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, and Roxbury Township Recycling.
Volunteer fixers will be available to help with a variety of repairs, including bicycles, electronics, computers and laptops less than five years old, household appliances and other household items, lamps, clothing and sewing, woodworking, knife sharpening, analog watch battery replacement, and miscellaneous items.
Repair services are free, although the cost of specialized parts may be passed along to the owner of the item being repaired. There is a limit of two items per household, and knife sharpening is limited to three knives per person. Attendees are asked to bring only items they can carry themselves, as volunteers will not be available to assist with transporting items.
Repair Cafés are part of a growing global movement that promotes repairing and reusing everyday belongings rather than throwing them away. By extending the life of household items, Repair Cafés help reduce waste and make better use of the resources that go into producing new products. Just as importantly, they create opportunities for people to share knowledge, learn new skills, and help one another.
“Repair Cafés bring together two things that can make a real difference in a community: people who have something they need help fixing and people who have the skills to help,” said Sam Fellman, Repair Café team lead at the Roxbury Public Library. “It’s a great opportunity to learn, connect with neighbors, and keep useful items out of the waste stream.”
Appointments are highly recommended and will receive priority, although walk-ins may be accommodated as space allows. Appointments can be registered online at tinyurl.com/rrc10-26.
For questions about the event or to volunteer, contact Sam Fellman at sam.fellman@roxburylibrary.org or (973) 584-2400.
The Roxbury Public Library is a community crossroads for learning and discovery. Each year, Roxbury Public Library serves more than 23,000 residents and neighbors with more than 200,000 check-outs and engagements through offerings of educational and enriching programs, concerts, lending books and audiovisual materials, and offering a wide array of digital content that allows our community members to access a vast array of books, audiobooks, music, and film on their personal devices via their library card. Roxbury Public Library offers expanded digital services, in person and online classes, passport services by appointment, an inventive Library of Things, and an abundance of helpful resources. To learn more, visit roxburylibrary.org.
The Lake Hopatcong Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to protecting the lake environment and enhancing the lake experience by bringing together public and private resources to encourage a culture of sustainability and stewardship on and around New Jersey’s largest lake, for this and future generations. To learn more, visit lakehopatcongfoundation.org.
Roxbury Township Recycling is dedicated to helping our community reduce waste, protect the environment, and meet our county’s recycling goals in compliance with state laws. We educate residents on what can and cannot be recycled, how to properly sort materials, and why recycling is important. By working together, we can maximize the benefits of recycling, reduce contamination, and ensure that our town contributes to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Roxbury residents are invited to download the free app Recycle Coach and sign up for Smart 911 to receive important notifications. The Township of Roxbury also participates in the statewide Clean Communities program to reduce litter in public places, encourage volunteer cleanup of public lands, and maintain litter reduction through education and enforcement. For more information: roxburynj.us/34/Recycling-Sanitation-information
