Disposal Options
What are the options for disposal of solar panels in Australia?
There are 3 basic options for disposal of
solar panels -
Reuse, Recycle or Landfill
Reuse and recycling of solar panels is a growing concern.
As a community Australians are getting behind the idea of green energy and looking to reduce the cost of household electricity. However, the first solar panels that were installed in Australia are now reaching the stage of replacement and the number of used panels will continue to grow.
The metal frames and wiring from the solar system can be recycled as scrap, but the panels themselves require specialised recycling or reuse to prevent them going to landfill.
How will Australia dispose of 80 million solar panels in an environmentally friendly way when they reach the end of their life? Read the March 2023 Uni SA study summary here: Solar industry feeling the heat over disposal of 80 million panels - News and events - University of South Australia (unisa.edu.au)
Solar panel waste to reach crisis in the next 2 - 3 years, March 2024
Reuse
In Australia used solar panels are not allowed to be reconnected to the grid. This means to be re-used they have to be used off-grid limiting the reuse applications/areas.
There is current discussion in the renewable energy sector about how to make reuse a viable, regulated option in Australia as a strategy to prevent landfill.
Recycle
Recycling solar panels is a tricky process that involves separating layers of glass, silicon, silver, tin, lead and copper through use of machines or chemicals. The components can then be reused to make new solar panels. Recycling is also expensive and the recycling companies charge the customer per kg to take the panels.
In SA work is underway to get a local solar recycling service up and running, but currently panels can only be recycled by trucking them to Victoria.
Read about July 2023 UNSW research breakthrough in environmentally friendly recycling process here: New environmentally friendly solar panel recycling process helps recover valuable silver | UNSW Newsroom
Landfill
Sadly, most solar panels currently end up at the dump. Panels are sometimes accepted for scrap - but only for the aluminum frames. The rest of the panels go to landfill.
The solar panels contain heavy metals that leach into the soil and water.
Currently in SA most waste stations are refusing to take panels because they can’t recycle them, or they charge a dump fee for the panels to go to landfill