Pan Pacific Recycling has developed a cutting-edge facility as part of the Smart Energy Council’s solar stewardship program, with funding support from the Queensland government. The facility recovers valuable materials like copper, silver and silicon from the solar panels without producing toxic fumes and ensuring nothing goes to landfill.

Even photovoltaic panels no longer capable of producing electricity have their aluminium and wiring removed, before being ground up and refined into base materials that can then be used to produce new products.

“At the moment, nearly all of our (Australia’s) solar panels are imported from China and at the same time we’re throwing away perfectly good panels…These panels have value and can actually contribute to the net zero target,” sustainability consultant James McGregor told The Guardian.

When solar panels arrive at the facility, they are initially sorted for reuse while broken and end-of-life panels are recycled. The process works effectively as glass is removed and recycled, while the metals and plastics are extracted and repurposed.

According to Pan Pacific Recycling director John Hill, there is a market for all the recovered materials such as glass, silicon and plastic, along with higher value copper, silver and aluminium. However, even with that considered, recycling still costs the company between $10 and $15 a panel.

So far, the facility has processed 30,000 panels a year, with plans to scale up to 240,000 annually. This initiative comes at a critical time, as over 1.2 million solar panels are expected to be decommissioned in Queensland alone next year.

The Smart Energy Council calls for a mandatory national stewardship scheme to maximise material recovery, promote the reuse and recycling of solar panels, and prevent discarded panels from ending up in landfills.

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