Issue #61: Solar panel recycling myth-busting
Panel recycling is happening, now, in Australia (in Logan!)
Despite our best efforts, it’s hard not to be a bit deflated after last year finished on a low point when Federal Labor approved yet more coal mines.
But, as we and others have written numerous times – the best medicine is action.
Harvard Medical School puts it succinctly: “The bottom line … taking action may help you feel in control”.
One action I aim to take this year is to be ready for conversations with folk who have concerns about renewable energy. So I will write a series of myth-busting newsletters over the coming months, starting with:
Myth: “Millions of used solar panels will all end up in land fill.”
Unfortunately, most used solar panels in Australia currently do end up in landfill. A 2023 Uni of NSW study (Solar Panel End-of-life Management in Australia) estimates that the cost of recycling is $10-$20 per panel, whereas chucking it into landfill is about $2. So in our dollar-driven economy, what do you reckon happens?
But that’s just today. We have many positive options for tomorrow.
Despite the cost, the good news is solar panels CAN be recycled!
The Report writes that about $20 worth of aluminium, glass, silicon, silver, and copper can be recycled from a typical 20-kg solar panel.
An efficient solar panel recycling approach (as is currently done in Europe) yields over 95% recycling rates. The recovered materials can be used to manufacture new panels. A circular economy!
How do we make it happen?
Fortunately, enlightened states are legislating to increase the incentive to recycle. Victoria has totally banned solar panel systems from landfill; South Australia and ACT restrict it; and Qld’s former Labor Govt had a plan to phase it out within 10 years.
Aiming to drive down the cost of recycling, research at Deakin University in Geelong has figured out a way to reclaim silicon from panels without using harmful chemicals like hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. The process, ready to scale up for commercial use, is cheap, effective and safe for the environment.
Avoiding landfill via recycling is not hypothetical. There are solar panel recycling businesses operating in Australia, now:
Lotus Energy at Thomastown in the north of Melbourne, since early 2021
Pan Pacific opened a plant in October 2024 at Crestmead, Logan, with the help of $5m from the former Qld Labor government
Elecsome have a plant operating in Melbourne since early 2024, with funding from the former Morrison Federal Government. They have recently signed an agreement with energy giant AGL to look into developing a plant in the Hunter Valley.
Ecoactiv collect panels for recycling in Brisbane, Melbourne and Townsville
Solar Professionals has a plant operating since July 2023 in Wagga Wagga, NSW
So you can see that recycling of solar panels is possible, is happening, and does have government support through funding and legislation.
With more markets, more research, more funding, and legislation forbidding dumping in landfill, solar panel recycling will be normal.
💪💪💪 Thus ending our landfill problem. 💪💪💪
What can you do today?
Did you know that 2024 was a big year of climate action? Get your positivity hit by viewing the 2 minute video by Lock the Gate, summarising their work across Australia, featuring actions you may have done here in Qld.
The climate action movement is now gearing up in anticipation of the looming Federal election. Read below for details of a banner drop in Brisbane and webinar happening tomorrow (Wed 5th).
🐝 If you have 5 minutes:
We know that the Federal Coalition’s Nuclear Power policy is really about ensuring a strong fossil fuel power generation industry for at least another 15 years. And if it ever happens, households battling the cost of living by taking electricity from rooftop solar may have to switch off their solar panels. Solar Citizens have written a short conversation guide about why rooftop solar with battery storage is so much better than nuclear for Australia.
Action:
Read the Solar Citizens Guide to why nuclear power threatens rooftop solar.
And while you are at it, sign the Petition calling for our federal representatives to protect our rights to generate, use and export our rooftop solar energy, now and into the future.
And more: join the No Nuclear For Australia facebook group
🐇 If you have 15 minutes:
In recent years, extreme weather events have ruined sporting fixtures and sometimes participants have suffered serious health consequences. Our favourite grassroots and elite sports are threatened by more frequent and severe heatwaves, bushfires, and floods. The Environmental Defenders Office has written a guide to help local clubs understand climate risks to sport and how we can all make sure summer sport is here to stay and safe to play.
Action: If you’re a player, a parent, guardian, coach, or club administrator, read the guide.
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more:
Tomorrow (Wed 5th Feb) is Extreme Heat Awareness Day. Did you know that heatwaves are our deadliest environmental disaster? Or that 2,150 people were hospitalised as a result of heat in the two years 2019-2021? In Brisbane, Lock the Gate will be dropping a banner warning of the consequences of extreme heat.
Action: Turn up to Anzac Square around 12 noon tomorrow Wed 5th, under the shade of one of the bottle trees. Hand out flyers, and support those dropping the banner over the overpass between Anzac and Post Office squares at 12:30pm.
Qld Conservation Council’s events calendar already stretches into late March, including several roadside actions which are an easy introduction to taking peaceful protest. First up tomorrow is a webinar which will explore the solutions to building renewable energy to better conserve resources, benefit communities and protect nature. Hear about ways to improve recycling of renewable energy components (such as solar panels!). This weekend you can attend a workshop to hear about key issues for climate and nature and an overview of the upcoming Federal election, what's at stake, and ways you could get involved.
Action:
RSVP for the webinar, tomorrow evening Wed 05 Feb, 6:00pm - 7:30pm (Qld time)
RSVP for the workshop Sat Feb 08 9:30am - 1:30pm at St Frances Theological College, 233 Milton Rd
Browse the events calendar for more
If you have started the new year resolving to really step up action for climate, you may be interested in 350.org’s Queensland Climate Activist Training. Let’s build a future where we can all afford to look after our families and communities, and be protected from bushfires, floods, rising seas and extreme heat. Where we have a government that listens to the people instead of corporations.
Action: RSVP for a full weekend (this Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th February) of training at the Nest Creative Space in West End, Brisbane.
Rockhampton and Yeppoon residents! Two thirds of regional Australians are concerned about climate change, so it is critical that we find ways to talk about it. Lock the Gate is holding a forum to help you feel more confident when talking about climate change with friends and family.
Action: RSVP for the forum, Tue 18 Feb 5:30pm - 7:30pm at The Hub, 7-9 James St Yeppoon
🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
At the moment, Federal Coalition policies such as their nuclear plan, abandoning greenhouse gas reduction targets, and putting the brakes on renewables rollout, are perhaps the biggest threat to climate action in Australia. One way to put them back in the box is for more community independents to win seats at the next election. Climate 200 has contributed funding (no strings attached) for several candidates this time round. One we are watching closely is for Mr Dutton’s own seat of Dickson, where Ellie Smith has a strong force of community-minded folk behind her pushing for genuine local representation. (Ellie is a local mum, environmental consultant and cancer survivor - and was also a leading light in Lock the Gate Qld for a decade.)
Some of my silly photos to finish this edition. The Tin Horse Highway in Western Australia, stretching for 15km from the township of Kulin to the racetrack, features around 70 horse themed sculptures. Try driving past without taking any photos!
That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action.
See you in two weeks
Ron
plus Robyn, Malcolm and Jan - The Climate Club Qld team
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We live, work and play on the lands of the Yuggara and Turrbal people in and around Magandjin - Brisbane. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded - always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
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Wow, I did not know there was a solar panel recycling plant near Logan!