Plan to recycle solar panels in Queensland

The Queensland Government has unveiled a draft e-products plan, targeting electronic waste in Queensland, including solar panels and batteries. As part of the draft plan, solar panels could be banned from being dumped in landfills within 10 years.

In 2019, solar panel waste accounted for nearly 1000 tonnes but by 2030 it could account for some 17,000 tonnes, according to a Queensland Government statement.

Alongside the trial, the government will initially invest more than $250,000 for a pilot of an industry-led Solar Stewardship Scheme, led by the Smart Energy Council (SEC). The pilot will involve two stages, with the first stage identifying participants and locations to divert end-of-life solar panels from landfill and recovering their useful materials.

“With the highest rooftop solar penetration in the country, we need to explore how we deal with panels when they reach the end of their life,” said Minister for Environment and Science Meaghan Scanlon. “We know that like other forms of e-waste, there is huge potential for parts to be recycled and in some instances repaired instead of ending up in landfill.

“We’ve seen industry is keen to get involved, now it’s just a case of how — which is where the pilot led by the Smart Energy Council and Activ Group comes in. The purpose of the project is to help us understand the best way to encourage and incentivise higher quality recovery opportunities to deliver great outcomes, with an initial key focus on regional Queensland.”

Circular economy specialists The Activ Group will also develop a tracking and information system to log volumes and locations of recovered materials as part of the pilot.

“The Smart Energy Council is proud to be partnering with the Queensland Government in an industry-led Solar Stewardship Scheme trial,” said Smart Energy Council Acting Chief Executive Wayne Smith. “The Queensland Government leads the world in embracing solar on homes so it makes sense that it now leads the nation on solar panel recycling with Australia’s first industry-led solar panel recycling scheme.

“The trial will examine the best ways to address any economic and logistical obstacles preventing the effective collection and disposal of unwanted household solar panels, with an initial focus on regional areas.”

Stage two will see on-ground collection, recovery and recycling of panels, focusing on rooftop installations.

The draft e-Products plan, which was co-designed with the eWaste Watch Institute, also includes actions to increase product stewardship, recycling and the repair of electronic waste through initiatives like repair cafes.

“As a company that installs solar PV on large commercial and industrial buildings, we welcome this initiative by the Queensland Government,” said Planet Ark Power’s CEO Peter Newland. “Following hailstorms in Brisbane a couple of years ago we had to send damaged solar panels to Sydney for recycling at a cost of $3000 per pallet. To develop a local recycling industry in a state that has installed more solar panels than any other in Australia is a very welcome addition to Queensland’s clean technology sector and to the development of a circular economy.”

Members of the public, industry and business representatives can now have their say on the draft action plan, which is available here.

Feedback can be provided by emailing eproductsfeedback@des.qld.gov.au and consultation will remain open until 17 April 2023.

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