# Can Solar Panels Be Recycled?

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/04/can-solar-panels-be-recycled/
- Published: 2021-04-06T21:14:45-04:00
- Author: Eillin Delapaz

Individuals can effectively source renewable energy and shrink their carbon footprint
when using solar panels. These devices convert the sun’s energy, a limitless resource,
into electricity to fuel our homes, cars and appliances. However, current options
have a temporary life cycle, which adds to customer concerns.  The average life 
span of a solar panel is between 25 and 30 years, [says Your Energy Blog](https://www.yourenergyblog.com/).

Many individuals believe the expiration date on renewable energy systems is counterintuitive.
If panels only last a few decades, where do they go when they expire? Solar customers
purchase their devices to [reduce waste](https://greenlivingguy.com/2023/07/solar-panel-recycling-innovation-zero-carbon-future/),
not create more.

Fortunately, disposal options for solar panels extend beyond landfills. Residents
can recycle various materials found within renewable energy devices. We can add 
to these systems’ sustainability by giving their components a second life.

![Can solar panels be recycled](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/
uploads/2021/04/zbynek-burival-V4ZYJZJ3W4M-unsplash.jpg?resize=780%2C516&quality
=89&ssl=1 "Can Solar Panels Be Recycled? - The Green Living Guy")

## **Solar Waste**

Last year, the media released unsettling images of the wind turbine disposal process.
The pictures displayed hundreds of propellors [ placed in shallow graves](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-02-05/wind-turbine-blades-can-t-be-recycled-so-they-re-piling-up-in-landfills)
that were then covered with dirt. Many renewable energy system owners responded 
with disbelief, pushing them to question, “Are companies burying solar panels, too?”

There are no current mandates requiring panel owners to recycle their systems after
their efficiency depletes. Residential solar panel use is still new, and many have
yet to reach their expiration date. That said, recycling components is not the present
norm.

Many of the residential panels that owners dispose of end up in landfills. The[ buildup of e-waste pollutes](https://www.heartland.org/news-opinion/news/solar-panels-generate-mountains-of-waste--and-heat-the-planet)
our environment, causing ecological destruction. We have the resources and knowledge
to reduce this waste by developing accessible [solar panel recycling](https://greenlivingguy.com/2023/04/solar-cell-new-method-recycling-cells/)
systems.

Many renewable energy device components can be recycled, so the future looks bright
for solar waste management. Because accessibility to panel recycling is currently
limited, many individuals believe they should hold off on purchasing solar. It still
efficiently reduces atmospheric destruction and your utility bill, so their benefits
are high. With advocation and technological advancements, sustainable management
should exist when devices reach the end of their life cycle.     

## **Recycling Panel Components**

Aluminum and glass make up 80% of solar panels and are recyclable materials. The
devices also contain gallium and indium, rare elements, which companies may extract
through recycling. When we reuse these materials, we limit the need for outsourcing,
which occurs when companies exploit foreign land and workers for limited resource
extraction. 

This process both degrades economies and emits air pollutants into the atmosphere.
By recycling materials in their reuse region, we can reduce overseas exploitation
and carbon emissions.

![Can solar panels be recycled](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/
uploads/2021/04/asia-chang-Yr-PvhKiorM-unsplash.jpg?resize=780%2C439&quality=89&
ssl=1 "Can Solar Panels Be Recycled? - The Green Living Guy")

### **Aluminum**

Aluminum is a simple material to recycle and is widely used in solar panel production.
You can recycle it infinitely with no degradation to its quality, creating a closed
loop. About 75% of the aluminum produced in the U.S. comes from recycled materials.

When you recycle aluminum from solar panels, you save 90% of the energy needed to
produce it from scrap. You can also give your renewable energy systems a second 
life by extracting usable materials.

### **Glass**

Glass is another[ 100% recyclable component](https://cen.acs.org/materials/inorganic-chemistry/glass-recycling-US-broken/97/i6#:~:text=Glass%20can%20be%20recycled%20endlessly,%2C%20the%20environment%2C%20and%20consumers)
of solar panels with an unlimited life cycle. The element can be melted down and
reformed endlessly to make new objects, also creating a closed loop. Unlike aluminum,
glass recycling facilities are less accessible and require further advancements 
to repurpose solar panels.

## **Solar Advancements**

As [solar panel](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/03/a-history-of-solar-power/) purchases
increase, companies dedicate more funds to enhancing their [green](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/09/4-useful-hacks-to-better-deal-with-your-home-waste/)
technology. The efficiency of renewable energy[ systems grew 43 times](http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/08/31/2085905/0/en/The-United-States-solar-energy-market-is-expected-to-grow-at-a-CAGR-of-17-32-during-2020-2025.html#:~:text=Although%20solar%20PV%20only%20contributed,almost%2043%20times%20since%202010.&text=%2D%20The%20utility%2Dscale%20solar%20PV,of%20installed%20capacity%20in%202019)
since 2010. Scientists predict that this number will [rise in the next few years](https://greenlivingguy.com/2005/07/rising-demand-puts-pressure-on-proven-reserves-which-have-not-seen-a-significant-boost-in-30-years/)
as technology advances.

With improvements to solar technology comes a decline in pricing and an increase
in recyclability. Scientists are working to enhance glass repurposing systems to
recycle all panel elements efficiently. They[ developed a process](https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/40248)
that recomposes glass for accessible repurposing.   

As scientists experiment with solar panel materials over time, they can create more
sustainable systems.

## **What Can Solar Customers Do?**

Even though the [solar panel recycling](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/05/solar-panel-recycling-co-leads-australia-in-emerging-industry/)
systems currently lack efficiency, that does not mean customers should stop supporting
renewable energy devices. By the end of your system’s life cycle, the repurposing
technology should be more advanced. Outside of investing in solar, you can also 
talk to your local government officials about increasing residential accessibility
to recycling facilities.

Advocating for better renewable energy device waste management can push representatives
to make impactful changes. You can also talk to your local recycling facilities 
about increasing their glass processing efficiency. Speaking out about sustainable
progress helps shed light on these issues.

**Bio:**

Jane is the Editor-in-Chief of [Environment.co](https://environment.co/) and an 
environmental writer covering green technology, sustainability and environmental
news.

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s=300&d=monsterid&r=g)

 Eillin Delapaz

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