Reuse & Repair Resources
Resources on this webpage include information on professional repair, ideas for reducing clothing waste, creative reuse of art supplies, how to re-home an item that is still useful, and upcoming Repair Fairs.
Finding a New Home for Useful Items
Do you have items that are still useful and in good condition, but you no longer have a use for them? Or are you looking for something “new” to you, but want to search for something pre-owned?
Below are a few ideas for finding a new home or finding something secondhand for a wide variety of items:
Note that inclusion of an organization here is for information purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement. If you think a resource is missing and would like to suggest it be added, please email [email protected].
Direct Online Resources
Try to find a new home for your item by directly listing your items on online forums such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or NextDoor. Chances are a neighbor or community member could use the item!
You can also see if your area has a local "Buy Nothing" group on Facebook, where people can post items they no longer need to prevent someone else from needing to buy it new.
You could also check out your local Stooping Club, a free group dedicated to re-homing usable items. There is a Ross Stooping Club run in Marin.
Donation Services
There are several services operating in Marin that are specifically looking to re-home useful items from folks who no longer need them.
For example, Make It Home, Waste Not Want Not Salvaging, Goodwill and Salvation Army, and local thrift or consignment stores.
Join us at a Repair Fair in Marin!
Bring your broken items to a free Repair Fair and learn how to repair them with expert guidance.
Tips for Clothing Waste & Repair
HOST A CLOTHING SWAP
Invite friends and community members to bring 5 – 10 items that are in good, wearable condition and shop your friends’ closets. Go home with something “new” to you!
Quick tip: If you are hosting a larger event, sort the clothes by size to make it easier for attendees to find something to take home!
SHOP YOUR CLOSET
Do a closet assessment and fall in love with items you might have forgotten you had. See if you can style what you already own in a new way!
Set aside pieces that need minor repairs or alterations—sometimes a quick fix can give old favorites a second life.
SHOP SECONDHAND
Visit your local thrift store to look for clothing items that can be given a new life. There are also online marketplaces dedicated to pre-owned clothing such as Poshmark, ThredUp, Ebay, and local Buy Nothing groups on social media.
(Inclusion of a website here is for example purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement.)
LEARN ABOUT TAKE BACK AND REPAIR PROGRAMS
LEARN TO MEND
Ripped a hole in your favorite jeans? Pick up a new skill and take up mending – learning how to fix your clothing will ensure it can continue to be used.
Quick tip: Check out mending classes at a local community college, or take a sewing workshop!
UNWEARABLE CLOTHING & TEXTILES
Do you have clothing or textiles that are unwearable? First, consider if you can repurpose any of these materials to use as cleaning rags, e.g. to replace paper towels.
If your items are not suited to be cleaning rags, Goodwill in San Rafael accepts unwearable textiles for rag-making or as insulation.
Resources for Creative Reuse
- SPARE (Sustainable Provisions for Art, Reuse, and Education) (San Anselmo): A local nonprofit resell shop for donated art, sewing, and craft materials.
- Another Reclaimed Treasure from Trash (ARTT) (San Rafael): A local non-profit specifically for art and creative reuse. Find reclaimed art supplies, fabric, yarn, and more.
- SCRAP (San Francisco): A large creative reuse center worth the trip for a wide variety of donated materials for art, crafts, and educational projects.
- East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse (Oakland): A non-profit center for people to donate and receive art supplies for reuse.
Resources for General Repair
Professional Repair by Category
If you notice a repair option missing from this list, email [email protected] to have an option added.
Download our Post Repair Fair Resources brochure (pdf) to learn about professional fixers and disposal options in Marin.
Mention here does not constitute an endorsement from Zero Waste Marin, and is meant for informational purposes only.
MICROWAVES & Kitchen Appliances
Jim’s Repair Service
48 Woodland Ave
San Anselmo
(415) 453-8715
A1 Appliance Repair
112 Bayo Vista Way
San Rafael
(415) 297-5833
National Appliance, Inc.
20 Joseph Street
San Rafael
(415) 493-0118
Hi-Tech Appliance Repair
28 Schmidt Ln
San Rafael
(925) 566-3913
A-Plus Appliances
145 Corte Madera Town Ctr, Unit 150
Corte Madera
(415) 515-5247
LAMPS
Lamp & Shade Shop
909 D Street
San Rafael CA 94901
(415) 453-7522
Nowell’s Lighting
1121 Francisco Blvd E
San Rafael
(415)332-4933
COFFEE MACHINES
De Luca Espresso Repair
Albany, CA
Email
(510) 513-8117
Kanen Coffee
2319 4th Street
Berkeley CA 94710
(510) 859-4425
OZ Espresso
Richmond, CA
Email
(510) 969-9925
SF Espresso Machine Repair
San Francisco, CA
(415) 429-6375
Jim’s Repair Service
48 Woodland Ave
San Anselmo CA 94960
(415) 453-8715
FURNITURE
Furniture Restoration of Marin
26 Medway Road #10
San Rafael, CA
(415) 459-3730
Marin Furniture Clinic
68 Woodland Ave
San Rafael, CA
(415) 459-1067
Green Leaf Furniture Repair
Email
(415) 250-0923
ELECTRONICS
Renew Computers
446 DuBois Street
San Rafael CA 94901
(415) 457-8801
Yucatech Computer & Phone Repair
522 3rd Street, Suite A
San Rafael, CA
(415) 747-8643
NorthBay Computer Systems
4 California Ave
San Rafael, CA
(415) 456-6537