The Queensland Government will consult on a proposal to ban the dumping of end-of-life solar panels in landfill and will pilot a solar panel recycling scheme led by industry.
On Clean Up Australia Day, Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon unveiled a draft e-Products plan, targeting electronic waste in Queensland, including solar panels and batteries.
As part of the draft plan, solar panels could be banned from being dumped in landfills within 10 years.
In 2019, solar panel waste accounted for nearly 1000 tonnes but by 2030 it could account for about 17,000 tonnes.
Alongside the trial, the state government will initially invest more than $250,000 for a pilot of an industry-led Solar Stewardship Scheme, led by the Smart Energy Council (SEC).
The pilot will involve two stages, with the first stage identifying participants and locations to divert end-of-life solar panels from landfill and recovering their useful materials.
Circular economy specialists The Activ Group will also develop a tracking and information system to log volumes and locations of recovered materials as part of the pilot.
Stage two will see on-ground collection, recovery, and recycling of panels, focusing on rooftop installations.
The pilot builds on the state government’s $1.1 billion Recycling and Jobs Fund and broader work to establish a recycling industry in Queensland and divert 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030.
The draft e-Products plan, which was co-designed with the eWaste Watch Institute, also includes actions to increase product stewardship, recycling, and the repair of electronic waste through initiatives such as repair cafes.
The draft plan is available for comment at: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/management/waste/recovery/reduction/draft-e-products-action-plan
Feedback can be provided by emailing eproductsfeedback@des.qld.gov.au Consultation will remain open until 5pm on 17 April 2023.
Meaghan Scanlon, Minister for Environment and Science said that with the highest rooftop solar penetration in the country, Queensland needs to explore how to deal with panels when they reach the end of their life.
She said the draft plan shows that Queensland is serious about dealing with electronic waste.
“We know that like other forms of e-waste, there is huge potential for parts to be recycled and in some instances repaired instead of ending up in landfill.
“We’ve seen industry is keen to get involved, now it’s just a case of how – which is where the pilot led by the Smart Energy Council and Activ Group comes in.
“The purpose of the project is to help us understand the best way to encourage and incentivise higher quality recovery opportunities to deliver great outcomes, with an initial key focus on regional Queensland.”
Wayne Smith, Smart Energy Council Acting Chief Executive said the trial will examine the best ways to address any economic and logistical obstacles preventing the effective collection and disposal of unwanted household solar panels, with an initial focus on regional areas.
He said the Smart Energy Council will establish a Solar Stewardship Scheme Consultative Committee, including solar PV manufacturers, distributors, retailers, installers, and certificate traders; recycling companies; regulators; local councils and Queensland Government representatives.
The committee will meet monthly during the trial period to share advice, data and learnings to help inform a possible future Solar Stewardship Scheme.
Peter Newland, Chief Executive Officer of Planet Ark Power’s said that as a company that installs solar PV on large commercial and industrial buildings, he welcomed the initiative by the Queensland Government.
“Following hailstorms in Brisbane a couple of years ago we had to send damaged solar panels to Sydney for recycling at a cost of $3000 per pallet. To develop a local recycling industry in a state that has installed more solar panels than any other in Australia is a very welcome addition to the Queensland’s clean technology sector and to the development of a circular economy.”
For more information, visit: www. statements.qld.gov.au
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