Repair education sits at the very heart of everything we do at Edinburgh Remakery. Because when we learn how to mend, we don’t just fix clothes or devices, we rebuild confidence, save money, reduce waste, and keep valuable skills alive in our communities.
That’s why we are so excited to share that our Textile Repair Cafes are back from 6th February.
A welcoming space where torn seams, broken zips and well-loved garments get a second chance and where people leave not just with repairs, but with new skills and a sense of pride.
We are grateful to The Erith Group for sponsoring our Repair Cafes, making it possible for us to resume our Textile Repair Cafes while keeping our Tech Repair Cafes going.
This support helps us grow repair education at the grassroots, empowering people with practical skills and keeping products in use for longer.
Because a circular economy isn’t built on throwaway culture, but on knowledge, care, and the confidence & skills to repair.
Ever wanted to know how your day-to-day tech works?
Join Edinburgh Remakery at Drumbrae Library Hub for a hands-on workshop guiding you through swappable parts to safely dismantling or keeping your devices working.
No tools or tech needed!
This event is for anyone aged 14 and up and is free with no need to book.
We are hosting a tech donation box from The Edinburgh Remakery here at Stockbridge Library until October.
Donate your old unwanted tech to help fight digital exclusion and e Waste. All donations are securely wiped, repaired and reused when possible or responsibly recycled when necessary.
**A little warning : items must be able to fit into the donation slot on the box!**
Edinburgh Libraries have held the official launch of a new recycling programme aimed at promoting sustainability and digital reuse across the city.
The service secured £23,000 in funding from the Public Library Improvement Fund, awarded by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), which supports innovative initiatives in areas such as digital upskilling, sustainability, and inclusivity.
This funding will allow Edinburgh Libraries to collaborate with Edinburgh Remakery to introduce Tech Donation Boxes to 15 libraries, these boxes will provide Edinburgh residents with an easy, welcoming, and accessible way to donate their old devices. Donated tech devices will be repaired and reused when possible or responsibly recycled when necessary, contributing to a circular economy and reducing electronic waste.
The programme was officially launched at Craigmillar Library this week (Tuesday 18 February), where attendees were introduced to the project and had the chance to participate in various activities, including a Making Jewellery with Recycled Materials workshop (featuring old computer parts, circuit boards, and more), a Climate Fresk Quiz, and an exhibition showcasing children’s crafts made from recycled materials.
Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener said: “In 2023 Edinburgh Remakery tech boxes were hosted within two libraries – Central Library and Wester Hailes Library. The response from the public was fantastic, and the library service was successful in securing an award from Edinburgh Remakery for the high volume of donations received.
“Thanks to this new funding, we’re able to extend our partnership with the Edinburgh Remakery, working across 15 public libraries to host Tech Donation Boxes and expand the role of our libraries in promoting sustainability throughout the city.”
Elaine Brown, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Remakery, said: “At Edinburgh Remakery, we are passionate about giving old tech a second life, and this partnership with Edinburgh Libraries is a fantastic step towards a more sustainable and digitally inclusive city.
“By making tech donation easy and accessible, we are not only reducing electronic waste but also ensuring that more people can benefit from refurbished devices. Together, we are creating a future where waste is minimised, and resources are maximised for the benefit of our community.”
From January to October 2025, the boxes will be installed in batches of four:
January to March: Central, Craigmillar, South Queensferry and Oxgangs
April to June: Morningside, Portobello, Wester Hailes, Corstorphine
June to August: Muirhouse, Piershill, Fountainbridge, Newington
Edinburgh Libraries are among the thirteen services to receive a grant from the 2024/25 Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF). Administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) on behalf of the Scottish Government, the fund supports initiatives designed to inspire engagement across areas such as digital upskilling, sustainability and inclusivity.
Delivered in partnership with community repair hub The Edinburgh Remakery, this new project will promote sustainability through the provision of tech donation boxes in all 28 libraries in the city. Visitors will be able to donate their old devices, which will be repaired and given a new home if possible and recycled responsibly if not.
Other projects to receive a share of the 2024/25 fund include an interactive flora trail in Orkney, equality, diversity and inclusion training in Glasgow and workshops for young people facing digital exclusion in East Dunbartonshire.
As one of few open-access spaces left in our local communities, the remit of libraries is ever-evolving and service delivery teams maintain a sharp focus on meeting the needs of modern users. The PLIF 24/25 grant, launched in August this year, prioritised applications seeking to strengthen digital inclusion and sustainability efforts, as well as Gaelic and Scots language and new Scots languages initiatives.
The projects awarded PLIF 24/25 funding include:
‘Innovation Station’, a new teaching hub in Aberdeen City Library
‘Sensory Library Services’, for library users with additional support needs in Angus
‘Cultural Connections’, expanding the collections of Gaelic and Ukrainian language books in Dumfries and Galloway
‘Creating Social Engagement through Digital Activities’ with children and young people in East Dunbartonshire
‘Libraries and Remakery Partnership Project’, hosting tech donation boxes throughout Edinburgh
‘EDI: Change-making Leadership and Practice Development in Public Libraries’, management training in Glasgow
‘Library Digital Learning Stations’, promoting accessible, self-paced learning opportunities in Midlothian
‘Tech Trolley: Outreach for Inclusive Futures’, facilitating intergenerational learning in Moray
‘Beyond Ramps: Creating Safe and Supportive Library Spaces For All’, tackling barriers for physically disabled library users in North Lanarkshire
‘Interactive Orcadian Flora Trail’, tackling social isolation in Orkney
‘Inclusive Libraries’, in partnership with Borders Additional Needs Group (BANG) in the Scottish Borders
‘Libraries Empower Connections’, taking on child poverty and digital exclusion in West Dunbartonshire
‘Fèis Ghàidhlig Leabharlainn’ (Libraries Gaelic Festival), literary arts workshops and events celebrating Gaelic language in the Western Isles
Alison Nolan, Chief Executive of (SLIC), said:“Public libraries offer truly diverse value to their communities. They provide access to vital services and resources, a wealth of social activities and are hubs for expression and creativity.
“Investment is so important for the continued provision of these services, and the Public Library Improvement Fund is one of the ways in which we bolster our public libraries.
“People, place and partnership are the pillars of our strategy for Scotland’s libraries, and this year’s winners captured the spirit of that vision. These thirteen projects expand on the vision of a library as solely a centre of literacy – they encourage civil engagement, expand people’s skillsets and celebrate the richness of local heritage.”
Culture Minister, Angus Robertson, added: “Libraries are at the heart of our communities, offering inclusive and accessible spaces where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to learn, create, and connect.
“The Public Library Improvement Fund brings important projects to life, which will make a positive impact on people. This year’s 13 innovative projects show the difference libraries can make to communities and how they can help to unlock people’s potential, increase employability and improve wellbeing.”
The Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF) is an annual £450,000 administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council on behalf of the Scottish Government that sees £200,000 given to support creative, sustainable and innovative public library projects throughout Scotland.
Members of the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee have visited Leith based businesses and social enterprises to learn more about the different ways in which businesses are evolving and adapting to help accelerate Scotland’s transition to a circular economy.
The visits form part of the Committee’s scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s Circular Economy Bill, as Parliament seeks to make sure the Bill encourages a new approach to the use and consumption of materials in a way that will ultimately help Scotland achieve it net zero goals.
Committee Members, Deputy Convener Ben Macpherson MSP (delegation lead) and Douglas Lumsden MSP began the visit at local refill shop WeighToGo, where Members looked back to a time before single use plastics and saw a simple and convenient solution to sustainable living.
Members then continued their research at the Edinburgh Remakery – a social enterprise which encourages regenerative practises linked to upcycling and the reuse of products. The visit ended at the Edinburgh Tool Library which offers the public access to all sorts of tools by promoting a ‘why buy when you can share’ ethos.
Following the visit Deputy Convener Ben Macpherson MSP, said: “Throughout our scrutiny of this Bill, we’re keen to understand each stage of the waste hierarchy – and what’s preventing reusing, recycling and recovering products and materials.
“It was great to hear more about the environmental benefits these organisations in Leith have generated, by offering more sustainable products and services for consumers. They’ve also helped social cohesion by bringing people together to share ideas and lived experiences, as well as learn new skills.”
“We want this Bill to support and drive change to reduce waste. Our thanks to all the hosting organisations for the invaluable insights they have shared.”
Momentous Moments can sometimes pass you by without pause, but we do want to shout about this one. The Edinburgh Remakery has just refurbished its 20,000th piece of tech in the span of 10 incredible years!
Amazing, considering that our Tech Team consisted of just one individual at the beginning! Their drive and determination have propelled this project into what it is today – a team of six, working hard to refurbish the donated tech for sale (at very affordable prices) and for gifting to people facing digital poverty. It’s a brilliant testament to sustainability and innovation.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that each of these 20,000 refurbished items has been given a new lease on life, extending their usability and diverting them from the clutches of landfill. Every refurbished piece represents a step towards a greener and more sustainable future.
A huge shoutout to the entire Tech Team for their continued hard work, dedication, and belief in the power of refurbishment. Let’s celebrate this milestone and continue to drive change towards a more eco-friendly world. Together, we can make a difference, one refurbished tech item at a time!
Edinburgh residents are being encouraged to hand in their unwanted laptops and other tech to be refurbished & repaired for reuse as well as being passed on to people who suffer who digital poverty.
The Council has partnered with the Edinburgh Remakery, an award-winning social enterprise committed to diverting waste from landfill and promoting a culture of repair and reuse, to help to make this happen.
Three tech donation centres have been set up at the following locations:
13 Sept – 16 Oct: Central Library
17 Oct – 20 Nov : Wester Hailes Library
21 Nov – 13 Dec : South East Locality Office
So far, the Edinburgh Remakery has helped more than 400 people out of digital poverty by donating tech to them through their Tech Gifting Programme.
Council Leader Cammy Day said:“The idea is to make it as easy as possible for anyone to pass on their unwanted technology instead of throwing it away.
“An estimated 24 million old smartphones are kept as ‘spares’ in homes across the UK in cupboards or drawers so I’d encourage everyone across the city to have a clear out where you can and donate your old phones or other tech items to those on low incomes who really need them.
“This project is also about tackling electronic waste, which is one of the fastest-growing and most polluting waste streams in the UK.”
Chief Executive Officer the Edinburgh Remakery Elaine Brown said:“We are delighted that our tech Donation Boxes will be hosted in the three libraries.
!The impact your donations will make cannot be underestimated. Together we can contribute to the city’s ambitious net zero targets, ensure that tech can get a new lease of life and prevent valuable, finite resources going to landfill.
“In addition, we will be able to give the gift of connectivity to people in our community experiencing digital poverty. Together we can Waste less and Live More!”
Through their activities, the Edinburgh Remakery estimated that they saved 83,087kg (CO2e) in CO2 emissions in 2022 – equivalent to 100 million smartphones being fully charged, or 1,400 trees grown for 10 years.
What you can donate:
Laptops and Macbooks
Tablets and iPads
Smart phones
DSLR cameras
General cables
Chargers
Headphones
Routers
Smart watches
Peripherals, such as keyboards, webcams, and mice.
Further information
Please don’t drop off general household electrical goods, such as toasters, kettles, lamps, hair dryers, etc. The donation boxes are also not able to accept printers of any size or type.
You can recycle electrical equipment at household waste recycling centres, but if you just have small items you might be able to recycle those at some local shops. The Recycle Your Electricals campaign has a postcode search to help.
Exciting Milestone Alert! 
Let’s celebrate this milestone and continue to drive change towards a more eco-friendly world. Together, we can make a difference, one refurbished tech item at a time! 
