A new initiative encouraging residents to repair rather than replace damaged household items is launching in Ibiza this month.

ReparaLab, a circular-economy project developed by Ibiza & Formentera Preservation in collaboration with Fundació Deixalles, will provide an open space where residents can bring everyday objects, use available tools and receive technical guidance to repair them and extend their useful life.

The programme will run from September through December at Fundació Deixalles in the Montecristo industrial estate.

Four Repair Sessions

The first four ReparaLab sessions will take place on September 25, October 30, November 27 and December 18.

Each afternoon will include two different formats.

The open repair space, called ReparaLab: Tot, will operate from 5:30pm to 7:30pm and will not require prior registration. Residents can bring an object they would like to repair and receive assistance while using the available equipment.

A separate themed workshop will run from 5:30pm to 7pm and will require advance registration.

From Clothes to Computers

Each themed workshop will focus on a different type of repair.

The first session on September 25 will concentrate on repairing and transforming clothing.

On October 30, the focus will move to lamps, followed by furniture restoration on November 27.

The final session on December 18 will focus on computers. Amics de la Terra will teach participants how to update equipment using free software, helping extend the useful life of older devices.

Registration for the themed workshops is available through the project's contact email.

Making Repair More Accessible

The project is based on a simple idea: many objects that could still be used end up being thrown away because repairs can be expensive, professional services can be difficult to find or people do not have the necessary tools.

ReparaLab aims to remove some of those barriers by making knowledge, equipment and technical support available to the public.

The initiative is intended not only to teach practical skills, but also to encourage people to consider repair and reuse before buying a replacement.

Ibiza's Waste Challenge

The project comes as Ibiza faces significant pressure from the amount of waste produced on the island.

According to data analysed by Ibiza & Formentera Preservation's Sustainability Observatory, Ibiza generated 655.5 kilograms of waste per person in 2024, around 14% more than the Balearic Islands average.

The organisation has also warned that the Ca na Putxa landfill could reach the end of its useful life before 2028 without a substantial reduction in waste generation.

Repairing existing products is therefore being presented as one way to reduce the amount of material entering the waste system.

Part of a Wider Circular Economy Strategy

ReparaLab forms part of Ibiza & Formentera Preservation's circular-economy programme, which promotes more sustainable patterns of production and consumption across Ibiza and Formentera.

Fundació Deixalles brings experience in waste prevention, reuse and social inclusion, making it a natural partner for the initiative.

The project places particular emphasis on prevention, aiming to stop waste from being created in the first place rather than dealing with it only after an item has been discarded.

More Than a Workshop

The organisers hope ReparaLab will become a practical meeting point where residents can learn skills that can be used at home.

The open format means participants do not need to be experts or already know how to repair an object. The idea is to provide access to tools and guidance that might otherwise be unavailable.

The programme also encourages a different approach to consumption, where repairing an item becomes an option before replacing it.

Could Continue Into 2027

The four sessions scheduled for the rest of 2026 are intended as the starting point for ReparaLab rather than a one-off project.

The organisers hope to continue the initiative in 2027 and expand the programme with additional themes and activities.

For Ibiza, the project offers a practical response to the island's growing waste challenge, encouraging residents to make more use of the objects they already own.

The first ReparaLab session takes place on Friday, September 25, with clothing repair and transformation workshops alongside the open repair space in Montecristo.