How an Arizona Recycling Plant is Working to Keep Old Solar Panels Out of Landfills

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): Adam Saghei walks among hundreds of discarded solar panels, collecting dust instead of power under the relentless Arizona sun at the We Recycle Solar facility. The rows of stacked panels towering over him are a visible reminder that even the greenest technologies face a growing waste problem. “There are hundreds of millions of solar panels installed in the U.S. today,” Saghei says. Globally, the country ranks second only behind China in solar energy production. “And one of the things that comes with that is waste,” he says.

As CEO of the first and largest U.S. recycling plant solely dedicated to processing end-of-life solar panels, Saghei estimates that roughly 10% of discarded panels are recycled while about 90% still end up in landfills.

Although solar energy does not produce air pollution or greenhouse gasses, the waste from worn panels can pose a significant environmental risk. If panels aren’t properly handled, toxic contaminants can leach into soil and water, creating potential hazards for ecosystems and communities. As Saghei explains the composition of solar panels, he uncovers several containers filled with fragments of crushed materials.

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantage.com