fixed: A New Documentary Exploring the Global Reality of E-Waste

On June 2, 2026, refurbed premiered fixed – Accra’s Answer to Europe’s E-Waste in Vienna, a new documentary that takes a closer look at one of the most urgent and misunderstood sustainability challenges of our time: electronic waste.

The premiere brought together journalists, researchers, sustainability experts, and partners for a screening and discussion about the realities behind global e-waste, circular electronics, and the responsibility Europe carries in shaping a more sustainable future.

But fixed is more than a documentary about waste.

It is a story about people, systems, repair culture, and the hidden consequences of the way we consume technology.

Electronic waste sorting for later processing in Accra, Ghana

Looking Beyond Europe’s E-Waste Narrative

Earlier this year, refurbed travelled to Ghana together with a group of European journalists to better understand what happens to electronics once they leave Europe.

The trip focused on Accra and the former Agbogbloshie area, which is a place long portrayed in European media as one of the world’s largest e-waste dumps. But what the team found on the ground was far more complex.

Through conversations with local researchers, government representatives, recyclers, and repair workers, fixed explores how the situation has evolved in recent years and challenges simplistic narratives around e-waste exports and disposal.

The documentary highlights something often overlooked in conversations around electronics: waste is rarely just waste.

Repair, Resilience, and Circular Thinking

Rather than focusing solely on environmental damage, fixed also shines a light on the innovation and resilience emerging locally.

From informal repair economies to material recovery systems, the documentary shows how communities are extending the life of electronics every day, often with limited resources, but deep technical expertise.

At the same time, the film explores the broader systems that contribute to global e-waste challenges:

• short product lifecycles
• limited repairability
• growing consumption of electronics
• loopholes in international export systems
• and the lack of truly circular infrastructure

Without offering easy answers, fixed invites viewers to rethink their relationship with technology and consider what a more responsible electronics industry could look like.

Why This Matters

At refurbed, we believe extending the lifetime of electronics is one of the most effective ways to reduce unnecessary waste and emissions.

But creating a circular economy requires more than refurbishment alone.

It requires listening to local perspectives, understanding global consequences, and supporting systems that prioritise reuse, repair, and responsible recycling.

The documentary is part of refurbed’s broader commitment to advancing circular solutions and supporting long-term sustainability initiatives, including projects in Ghana that aim to establish safer and more formalised recycling infrastructure.

Watch the Documentary

fixed – Accra’s Answer to Europe’s E-Waste is now available to watch online.

Watch the documentary here:

We hope the film sparks new conversations about circularity, responsibility, and the future of electronics.