Residents of Ramona and nearby communities can reduce waste while having household items repaired at the San Diego Fix-It Clinic set for this Saturday.

The clinic will be hosted by Zero Waste San Diego from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 5 at the Ramona Library, 1275 Main St.

Zero Waste San Diego aims to create, promote and manage zero waste programs and events; advocate for resource management policy change and educate people on how they can move toward a sustainable lifestyle, according to its mission statement.

The clinic aligns with that mission by giving people another option before throwing something away just because it is broken, said Zero Waste San Diego Director Laura Anthony.

“We are trying to rebuild a culture of repair – where fixing something is once again the normal first choice rather than immediately replacing it,” Anthony said. “These events provide people with access to tools, knowledgeable volunteers and a space to learn how to troubleshoot and repair the things they already own.”

Residents can bring a wide variety of items, including small appliances, electronics, computers, toys, bicycles, clothing and other portable household items.

Volunteer SD Fix-It Clinic coaches will work with participants to diagnose the problem and identify whether the item can be repaired.

“We can’t guarantee that every item will be fixed, but sometimes success is simply figuring out what is wrong, what part is needed or whether the item is worth repairing,” Anthony said.

SD Fix-It Clinic is different from a traditional repair service because participants work alongside the volunteer coaches throughout the repair process.

“We don’t want people to just hand us their broken toaster and come back later,” she said. “We want them sitting at the table with us, opening it up, asking questions and learning how it works.

“Even if we aren’t able to completely fix the item that day, we hope they leave knowing more than when they arrived and feeling more confident about trying a repair in the future,” she added.

Fix-It Clinics are also environmentally friendly. Keeping products in use longer saves the raw materials, energy, water, packaging and transportation associated with manufacturing new products, Anthony said. Repairing items can also save families money, preserve useful skills and make communities more self-sufficient, she said.

There is no charge to participate in the Fix-It Clinic, but donations are appreciated and help Zero Waste San Diego continue providing Fix-It Clinic events in communities throughout San Diego. Rather than dropping off items for a free repair service, participants are expected to be part of the repair process and learn alongside the volunteers, according to the organization. If a repair requires a replacement part not available in stock, the participant may need to purchase it.

This is the third consecutive year a SD Fix-It Clinic has been held in Ramona.

“The SD Fix-It Clinic is a year-round program rather than one annual event,” Anthony said. “We rotate clinics throughout communities across San Diego County. We’re always excited to return to communities because the long-term goal isn’t simply to hold an event – it is to build a community where repair knowledge continues long after the SD Fix-It Clinic is over.”

Sustainable Ramona, a nonprofit that supports local sustainability practices, is co-sponsoring the Fix-It Clinic in Ramona, said board member Belinda Long.

Several repair people are expected to be from Ramona and at least one board member will attend, she said.

In addition to encouraging earth-friendly practices at an annual Earth Day Festival in April, Sustainable Ramona promotes reusing, repurposing and recycling items year-round, Long said.

“Sustainable Ramona encourages people to get things repaired instead of having their items go into a landfill,” she said.

For more information, visit sdfixitclinic.org.