Australia's growing solar panel waste crisis has become a major concern. With retirement rates expected to double, the recycling prospects previously promised by the government may be derailed without a national product stewardship scheme.
The Recycling Challenge
Although Australian recycling technology can now recover more than 95% of panel materials—including glass, aluminum, silicon, copper, silver, and even EVA encapsulants—actual recycling remains economically unviable. Complex logistics, extremely low demand for secondhand panels, and transportation costs that often exceed landfill fees make it far more common for discarded panels to end up in landfills or shipped overseas for dumping.
The Call for a National Framework
Stakeholders have reached a consensus, calling for a national stewardship scheme similar to container deposit systems. Such a framework would shift the financial burden from recyclers and consumers to manufacturers and importers. This would not only support cost-effective recycling but also reduce environmental and social risks while protecting related jobs.