Recycling of Photovoltaic Panels
As solar panels reach the end of their 25-30 year lifespan, the EU's WEEE Directive regulates collection and recycling of materials like silicon, glass and silver.
Photovoltaic panels have a lifespan of roughly 25-30 years, and with the massive installations of recent decades, recycling needs are expected to grow exponentially. Panels are made of cells containing silicon, glass, aluminium, silver and other recoverable metals, avoiding the waste of valuable resources in landfills.
The WEEE Directive
The EU's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive began covering photovoltaic panels in 2012, making manufacturers and importers responsible for financing collection, treatment and recovery of waste, and setting collection and recycling targets for Member States.
- Challenge: complexity of composite materials, difficult to separate
- Challenge: high cost compared to landfill disposal, with infrastructure still developing
- Opportunity: recovery of high-value materials, such as silver and copper
- Opportunity: creation of green jobs and reinforcement of the circular economy