The polls are open – name Somerset Waste Partnership’s van!

The polls are now open in a vote to decide what Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) calls the county’s new mobile repair and reuse project.

Around 80 suggestions were put forward in a great response from Somerset’s enthusiastic public. 

These have been whittled down to a shortlist of five potential names for the new service which is due to hit the road this summer.

The customised van – driven by a Community Repair Coordinator – will be travelling around the county supporting repair groups and cafes in their work to fix all things electrical.

It will also appear at events, schools and businesses to provide hands-on help, training and promote the repair and reuse of electricals and electronics.

The five shortlisted names for the van and service are. 

  • Norma
  • Phoenix
  • Revival
  • Sparky
  • Fixy/Fixy McFixFace

Votes can be cast in an online survey until midday on Monday 7 March.

From toasters to tablets, record players to remote controls, if it has a plug or takes batteries, this project is about giving it a new lease of life when it stops working.

The transit-sized van will provide practical help, useful tools and a PAT testing service – all to encourage people to get things fixed and reused rather than throw them away or recycle them.

In its first year the project and van will be dedicated to repairing electricals and electronics.

If it proves successful, SWP will look to extend the project and broaden in its remit to supporting the repair and reuse of any items.

So, the successful name needs to be something that could work for general repair and reuse as well as electricals and electronics.

The Somerset project is one of three being funded by this year’s Ecosurety Exploration Fund which supports innovative approaches to reducing the environmental impact of packaging, batteries or electrical items.

It is being led by Resource Futures and also working with Donate-IT, a local Community Interest Company which refurbishes laptops, tablets and phones and distributes them to families who need them.

The van will have a collection point for these items. Donate-IT will securely data wipe donations.