Almost 1000 tonnes of solar photovoltaic and battery storage was dumped into landfills across the state in 2019 – and that figure is expected to grow.
“It is forecast that by 2030,the mix of e-waste generated per annum will change significantly. Solar PV and battery storage waste will grow the fastest to over 17,000 tonnes,” the 28-page draft report says.
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The 10-year plan would be complemented by an industry-led solar-panel recycling scheme,with the government tipping in an initial $250,000 to fund a two-stage pilot program.
The pilot will firstly identify participants and places to divert end-of-life solar panels from landfill,and develop a tracking and information system to log volumes and locations of recovered materials.
On-ground collection,recovery and recycling of panels will then form the focus of the pilot’s second stage.
Members of the public,industry and business have been invited to give feedback on the plan by April 17.