Solar panel recycling in Perth: what happens at end of life

An average Perth home installed a 1.5kW–3kW solar system between 2009 and 2013. Those panels — now 13–17 years old — are reaching or approaching end of life. With 3–4 million solar panels in WA, panel disposal is a growing issue that Australia is beginning to address through industry stewardship and emerging recycling capacity.

What solar panels are made of

Understanding why recycling is challenging — and valuable — starts with the materials:

• Silicon (90%+ by weight): Purified silicon semiconductor. High intrinsic value but energy-intensive to separate
• Glass (70–75% by weight): Tempered front glass. Can be recycled as cullet (lower-grade glass applications), though solar glass has specific composition
• Aluminium frame: Fully recyclable via standard aluminium recycling
• Silver: The silver paste used in cell contacts is the highest-value material per kilogram — recycling yields approximately $2–5/panel in silver
• Copper: Wiring and ribbon connectors — recyclable
• EVA encapsulant and backsheet: Polymers that encapsulate the cell — difficult to separate and largely landfilled in current processes
• Small amounts of lead and tin: Used in solder joints (pre-RoHS panels may have higher lead content)

For a standard 1.6kW system (8 x 200W panels from 2010), the recoverable materials include approximately 15kg of aluminium (frames), 8 panels of glass, and small quantities of silver and copper.

Current panel disposal in Perth

The reality today:

Most solar panel replacements and decommissionings in Perth result in panels going to landfill. This is legal — solar panels are classified as general waste in WA, not hazardous waste (unless they contain cadmium, which standard crystalline silicon panels do not). However:

• WA's Environmental Protection Authority has flagged e-waste as a growing concern
• The small lead content in pre-2014 solder joints means older panels arguably warrant more careful disposal
• Landfilling high-purity silicon and silver is economically wasteful

What installers typically do:

When replacing panels — due to system upgrade, failure, or storm damage — Perth installers generally:

1. Remove frames (recycled as aluminium scrap)
2. Dispose of panel bodies as general waste
3. Occasionally offer panels to the secondhand market if still functional

Australia's solar panel stewardship scheme

The Australian Government and solar industry have been developing a product stewardship framework for solar panels since 2021. Key developments:

Product Stewardship for PV (PSS-PV): A voluntary scheme operated through a product stewardship organisation, aiming to divert solar panels from landfill. Manufacturers and importers who join the scheme contribute a fee per panel imported, which funds collection and recycling infrastructure.

Current limitations:

• Participation is not mandatory for all importers
• Recycling capacity in Australia remains limited
• Cost of certified recycling is estimated at $10–$30/panel, which often exceeds the recovered material value
• No dedicated solar panel recycling facility operated in WA as of mid-2026; panels processed in the eastern states

What this means for Perth homeowners: There is no convenient, low-cost recycling pathway for old solar panels in Perth today. If you're replacing or disposing of panels, your practical options are:

1. Landfill (legal, least cost, environmentally least preferred)
2. Aluminium scrap for frames (most recyclers will take bare frames)
3. Ask your installer if they participate in any stewardship scheme — some do, though at additional cost
4. Contact your local council — some WA councils accept e-waste at specific drop-off events; solar panels may qualify as e-waste

What happens when panels are recycled

The basic recycling process for crystalline silicon solar panels:

1. Frame removal: Aluminium frames removed and recycled via standard aluminium stream
2. Junction box removal: Junction boxes (plastic/copper) removed
3. Glass separation: The laminate is heated or mechanically processed to separate the glass from the cell/EVA layer
4. Glass cullet: Recovered glass used for lower-grade glass applications
5. Silicon/silver recovery: The delaminated cell material is processed (often chemically) to recover silicon and silver. This is the most technically demanding and expensive step
6. Backsheet/EVA: Largely energy-recovered (burned) or landfilled in most current processes

Recovery rates (approximate):

• Aluminium frame: >90%
• Glass: >80% (as cullet)
• Silver: 70–90%
• Silicon: 60–80% (typically recycled into lower-purity silicon products, not solar-grade silicon)
• Plastics/polymers: <30%

Secondhand solar panels in Perth

Functional second-hand solar panels from upgrades or removals do have a market:

• Off-grid and rural applications that don't require STCs (secondhand panels cannot claim new STCs)
• Community projects, shade structures, water pumping
• Hobbyist/DIY 12V systems

Value: Functional panels from a 2010–2015 installation (150–250W at rated, likely producing 80–90% of rated output now) have a secondhand market value of approximately $20–$60/panel.

Caution for buyers: Older panels with cracked cells, delamination, or hotspot damage may produce significantly less than rated. A visual inspection and comparison of monitoring data (if available from the original system) helps assess condition. Secondhand panels should not be used in grid-connected systems without NCN lodgement — the same as new panels.

Planning ahead for panel replacement

If you're installing a new solar system now with a 25-year planning horizon:

• Ask your installer which panels participate in stewardship schemes
• Keep your installation documentation including panel serial numbers (helps with future recycling registration)
• Consider whether the installer will handle end-of-life disposal as part of their service commitment

The panel recycling situation in Australia will likely improve substantially over the next 5–10 years as first-generation systems reach end-of-life in volume. Mandatory product stewardship regulations are under development federally.

Today, the most responsible disposal option for Perth homeowners replacing old solar panels is to ask your installer about stewardship scheme participation, and at minimum ensure aluminium frames are recycled rather than landfilled with the panel body.