Australia faces solar waste crisis

Australia is world leading in its uptake of residential rooftop solar, installing new solar panels at ten times the global average rate. This means, on a per capita basis, the solar waste problem facing Australia is far greater than that experienced in any other country. New research from the Sydney Law School aims to re-orientate renewable energy laws. Australia is now facing a solar waste crisis. The International Renewable Energy Agency, the International Energy Agency and the Australian Government have all identified the issue of solar waste. In her June 2021 National Press Club address the (now previous) federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley described the problem "The uptake of millions of solar panels across the country from rooftops to solar farms has been vital from an emissions perspective but the explosion of retailers and importers in the area, and the lack of an industry wide approach to collection and recycling means it also looms as a landfill nightmare." Over 3.3 million Australian homes now have solar panels, with the oldest of these now beginning to reach their end of life (approximately 25-30 years). Due to Australia's limited regulations, and domestic recycling capabilities, when solar panels break or reach their end of life they end up in landfill.