- Lack of Awareness and Standards:
- There is a significant lack of awareness about recycling options and standards among stakeholders, which hinders effective recycling practices.
- A lack of standardization in solar panel composition complicates the recycling process across different states.
- Economic Viability:
- Recycling solar panels is often more expensive than landfilling, making it less economically viable.
- Without sufficient economic incentives or regulations, companies often opt for the cheaper disposal methods.
- Logistics and Infrastructure:
- Limited collection and logistics infrastructure for handling end-of-life solar panels makes it difficult to access recycling facilities, particularly in rural areas.
- Policy and Regulation:
- The absence of strong state-level policies or federal regulations banning solar panels from landfills hampers the development of a structured recycling ecosystem.
- However, some states have begun to enact policies to address these challenges, such as North Carolina’s ban on disposing solar panels in construction and demolition landfills.
- Extended Producer Responsibility:
- Discussions around extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws vary by state, with Washington state having implemented EPR policies for solar panels, which may influence recycling practices at the state level.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-main-challenges-in-recycling-solar-panels-at-the-state-level/
