Many homeowners across the country are switching to solar energy, with more than 4 million installations expected in the U.S. by 2023. The goal: save money on electricity bills and help the environment. But there’s one thing many owners fail to think about: end-of-life disposal. Even though solar panels — also known as photovoltaic or PV modules — can be recycled, researchers say many are ending up in landfills. Why? Recycling is expensive.
“A solar module might generate $2 in commodities after my company or a company like us spends somewhere between $15-25 to break that down,” AJ Orben, vice president of We Recycle Solar, said.
According to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, solar panels are considered hazardous waste until proven otherwise. This can be determined through a toxicity test. If the panels pass the test, they can go to a regular landfill. If panels fail the test or aren’t tested, they have to go to a hazardous waste treatment facility or a solar panel recycling center with a permit to handle those materials. These options are more expensive, though, than taking them to a local dump, which is why some people will still toss them at a regular landfill.