A new initiative in Ibiza is encouraging residents to repair everyday objects instead of throwing them away.

ReparaLab, launched by Ibiza & Formentera Preservation and Fundació Deixalles, held its first session on Friday, September 25 at the Fundació Deixalles facilities in the Montecristo industrial estate. The project combines practical repair workshops with access to tools and technical guidance.

Learning to Repair and Reuse

The first themed workshop focused on repairing and transforming clothing and had a maximum of 15 participants.

At the same time, visitors could use ReparaLab: Tot, an open repair space where people can bring an item they want to try to fix themselves, using available tools with support from a technician.

The service is designed around participation. Visitors are not simply asked to leave a broken item for someone else to repair. Instead, they work on the item themselves with the space, equipment and technical advice needed to try to find a solution.

The organisers say the concept can apply to a wide range of everyday objects, including clothing, bicycles, furniture and household appliances.

A Different Workshop Each Month

ReparaLab is scheduled to continue with a themed session on the final Friday of each month through December.

After the September workshop on clothing, the programme moves to lamps on October 30, furniture restoration on November 27 and computers on December 18.

The final session of the year will focus on extending the life of computers through free and open-source software and will be delivered with the participation of Amics de la Terra.

The themed workshops run from 17:30 to 19:00 and require advance registration.

The separate ReparaLab: Tot repair space operates from 17:30 to 19:30 and does not require prior registration.

Tackling Ibiza's Waste Problem

The project forms part of Ibiza & Formentera Preservation's circular economy programme and is being developed in collaboration with Fundació Deixalles, which has experience in waste prevention, reuse and social inclusion.

Ibiza & Formentera Preservation says Ibiza generated 655.5 kilograms of waste per person in 2024, which it calculates as 14% above the Balearic average.

The organisation has also warned that the Ca na Putxa landfill could reach the end of its useful life before 2028 if waste generation is not substantially reduced. These figures and projections come from the organisation's own analysis.

The initiative therefore focuses on prevention as well as recycling, with the organisers arguing that repairing an object and keeping it in use can avoid it becoming waste in the first place.

Making Repairs More Accessible

One of the practical problems identified by the organisers is that people may not have the knowledge, tools or access to affordable professional services needed to repair something at home.

ReparaLab is intended to address that gap by providing equipment and guidance in one place.

The idea is not limited to fixing an item in its original form. A worn pair of trousers, for example, could be transformed into a bag, while other objects can be modified or restored for continued use.

The organisers also encourage people to consider whether an unwanted item could be passed to family or friends, donated to a social organisation, sold second-hand or otherwise kept in circulation before it becomes waste.

ReparaLab Plans to Continue in 2027

The four sessions scheduled for September through December are being presented as the starting point for the project.

Ibiza & Formentera Preservation says it hopes to continue ReparaLab in 2027 and expand the programme.

For now, the initiative offers residents in Ibiza a practical way to learn repair skills, use tools they may not have at home and give everyday objects another chance before replacing them.