It's All Connected: Building Community Through Repair and Reuse

Christy Phillips, the Yarmouth Resilience Fellow, explores how repair fairs and swap shops help build a more connected, circular community.

Have you ever stopped to think about what "away" really means? I hadn't. Once something was tossed into the trash, it was out of sight and out of mind. That changed in 2018, when I stumbled across the YouTube channel Trash Is for Tossers and began to question where "away" really was.

At sixteen, I thought environmentalism was about reducing my own environmental impact and I immediately jumped in. I began shopping almost exclusively secondhand, applied to work at the only bulk food store in my town, and even started a blog for teenagers who wanted to live low-waste while still living at home with their parents. 

Over time, however, my perspective shifted. There was a global crisis that made it apparent just how beneficial, and sometimes necessary, single-use items can be. I ended up working at that grocery store for six years and today, I see it differently. Individual choices still matter, but lasting change happens when communities have the tools and opportunities to make sustainable choices together.

The discovery of the concept ‘zero waste’ sent me down a path that has shaped the last seven years of my life and eventually led me to where I am today, as the Resilience Corps Fellow for the Town of Yarmouth. My placement with Yarmouth has provided me with the language and framework to understand some of the ideas I had already been practicing.

The Circular Economy

When I first started my service term in Yarmouth, I was introduced to the concept of a circular economy. This type of economy is an intentional shift away from the current, linear economy. Within a linear economy, materials are often valued for their ability to be used and then discarded. In a more circular model, materials are valued for their ability to be used for as long as possible through reuse, repair, sharing, and repurposing. 

In 2024, the Yarmouth Town Council adopted the Yarmouth's Climate Action Plan (YCAP). There are five focus areas identified in the YCAP, with the third focusing on creating a more circular economy. The plan envisions a community where “Yarmouth manages resources sustainably through an efficient circular economy that reduces waste by maximizing the lifecycle of material goods, reducing consumption, and driving local innovation” (YCAP, 34). To achieve this vision, the plan outlines nine strategies aimed at reducing community waste. As part of my service term this year, I had the opportunity to contribute to the implementation of these strategies by working on two projects that support this transition toward a more circular economy. 

Swap Shops:

In Yarmouth, a Pay-As-You-Throw model was adopted in 2023

Yarmouth has a transfer station, as do many other municipalities throughout Maine, along with a few private companies that offer curbside pickup. In 2023, the town adopted a Pay-As-You-Throw system, which means that the more you throw away, the more you pay. It encourages residents to recycle and to compost or use Agri-Cycle for food waste whenever possible - as these alternatives are free. Since adopting the program, Yarmouth has seen a dramatic reduction in incinerated waste. Annual totals have dropped from roughly 2,200 tons to around 1,500 tons - a reduction of more than 700 tons of garbage.

The Yarmouth Transfer Station Swap Shop

In addition to Pay-As-You-Throw, the Yarmouth Transfer Station is home to a swap shop, a feature that has become relatively common at transfer stations across Maine. Over time, the volunteers who had once organized and staffed the Yarmouth Swap Shop had dwindled, and it seemed like the shop was rarely open. When I first started my placement in January, several people asked whether we would be revitalizing the swap shop. 

In an effort to revitalize it, I organized some tours of swap shops throughout coastal southern Maine, to see how different communities operated theirs and what models might work best for Yarmouth. We saw success in many different forms - from South Portland's standalone building, which was impeccably organized and managed, to Saco's simple covered carport with minimal oversight.

The Cape Elizabeth Transfer Station Swap Shop

There was one common theme: swap shops create community. Every location we visited talked about having regulars - people who stopped by not only browsing for items, but also to catch up with neighbors and spend time together. This is also what separates swap shops from online communities, such as Facebook Buy Nothing groups. While online groups are incredibly useful, swap shops offer face-to-face interactions in one centralized location. 

Since visiting the Yarmouth Swap Shop, my desk space is now adorned with a lovely print of Monet's Purple Poppies and a vintage L. Johnson Heart Cockle print.

But what happens when you come across an item that is no longer functional and therefore cannot be donated to the Swap Shop, even though it is still in otherwise good condition? This question leads to the next project I have been helping to develop during my service term.

Repair Fairs

I have always loved working with my hands - beadwork, sewing, and general tinkering are all activities I would consider to be my preferred hobbies. When I mentioned this during my interview, Julia, the Program Director of Resilience Corps, introduced me to the concept of repair fairs. So, when my Yarmouth supervisor, Meddy, mentioned wanting to start a repair meetup in Yarmouth, I was enthusiastic.

A mended mitten at the North Yarmouth Repair Fair

Repair fairs, or repair meetups, are events where volunteers donate a few hours of their time to help participants repair broken or worn items. From an environmental perspective, these events keep usable items out of the landfill. But, more importantly, they bring people together. People from all walks of life attend these events, creating opportunities for conversation, skill-sharing, and connection. 

Since moving to Portland, I have had the pleasure of attending four repair meetups. Not only did I receive help mending two of my favorite sweaters, but I also had the opportunity to volunteer at one.

Earlier this spring, Yarmouth partnered with North Yarmouth to host a repair fair. I attended as a representative of Yarmouth and volunteered at the fabric repair table. Although some people just dropped their items off at the table and told me they would be back in an hour, most of the participants took an active role in the repair of their item. For items we couldn't repair due to lack of equipment or time, we offered suggestions for what the participants could do instead. One participant in particular sat next to me while I darned her sweater and reattached a button. She asked me questions while I worked and it was really exciting to show her what I was doing and explain why I was choosing to repair it the way I was. 

Christy reattaching a button on a skirt at the North Yarmouth Repair Fair

I am excited to be organizing a repair meetup in Yarmouth later this year and hope to develop a program that can continue to grow in Yarmouth long after my fellowship ends. 

The choices I made after discovering zero waste in 2018 led me somewhere I never expected. They brought me to where I am today: a Resilience Corps Fellow working to help build a more circular, connected, and resilient community. Looking back, I realize this journey was never just about producing less trash. It was about discovering new ways of thinking, connecting with amazing people, and imagining a future where waste is viewed as a resource rather than an inevitability.

Before this fellowship, I thought sustainability was mostly about the choices I made as an individual. Through the Resilience Corps, I've learned that some of the most impactful environmental work happens when communities come together to share resources, skills, and ideas. Whether it's a swap shop, a repair meetup, or a conversation at the transfer station - resilience is built through connection. 

About Christy

Christy is a curious individual from Cranbury, a small historic town in New Jersey. She graduated from Skidmore College with a double major in Environmental and Education Studies, receiving departmental honors in Environmental Studies. Christy also minored in Geoscience and is especially interested in understanding the landscapes (and rocks) she encounters. Throughout her academic and professional experiences, Christy has been drawn to place-based and project-based learning, both as a student and as an educator, because of their real-world relevance and lasting impact. For her Environmental Studies capstone, she led a comprehensive assessment of a 236-acre property in Vermont, integrating stakeholder perspectives and community needs. This experience allowed her to collaborate closely with the landowner and a diverse group of community members. It strengthened her appreciation for interdisciplinary collaboration and inclusive environmental decision-making, inspiring her to join Resilience Corps. In her free time, Christy enjoys going on walks, tending to her many plants, thrifting, and engaging in handwork such as jewelry making, embroidery, and mending clothing. Through the Resilience Corps, Christy is eager to continue exploring community engagement, learn from Maine’s landscapes, and contribute to the greater Portland area.