The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has welcomed the the Federal Government’s pilot of a national solar panel recycling program to cut landfill waste and recover valuable materials.
Under the three-year pilot, the Federal Government will invest $24.7 million to establish up to 100 collection sites across Australia, creating a national approach to recycling end-of-life solar panels.
The pilot responds to a Productivity Commission report into circularity in Australia’s economy, which recommended establishing a solar panel recycling scheme to better manage high-value waste streams.
Australia has one of the highest rates of rooftop solar uptake globally, with more than one in three households now using solar panels. Many panels contain valuable materials and critical minerals, including copper, silver and aluminium, that can be reused to support the clean energy transition.
Currently, only 17 per cent of solar panels are recycled, with most stockpiled, sent to landfill or exported for reuse. Increasing recycling rates could unlock up to $7.3 billion in benefits through reduced waste and material recovery.
The Federal Government said the pilot will help build a sustainable, nationally coordinated system for managing solar panel waste, while working with states and territories on longer-term solutions.
ALGA President, Mayor Matt Burnett, said that the Government’s announcement of a national solar panel recycling pilot is a positive step toward building a stronger circular economy and diverting waste from landfill.
“Councils play a critical frontline role in waste and resource recovery, managing a large number of waste facilities across the country. Any national approach to decreasing the quantities of waste going to landfill or stockpiled helps manage the current unsustainable pressures on councils,” Mayor Burnett said.
“Local government is also a key partner in the nation’s energy transition, from facilitating rooftop solar uptake, helping communities navigate renewables development, and delivering community energy programs. This initiative would help close the loop so panels aren’t left to stockpile or end up in landfill.”
“But for this pilot to lead to a long-term national solution, the Federal Government must also progress strong product stewardship arrangements. Manufacturers and importers must share responsibility for the end-of-life management of solar panels so ratepayers aren’t left carrying the cost.”
Local governments have long urged national action on solar panel waste because councils manage the majority of Australia’s waste facilities, making them essential partners in designing practical and locally tailored recycling solutions.
ALGA reiterates its longstanding position that Australia also needs a national, regulated, product stewardship scheme across its waste system to ensure responsibility is shared fairly across the supply chain, and to drive investment in processing infrastructure, skills, and end markets.
“We welcome the Productivity Commission’s recommendation for a national recycling scheme and look forward to working with all levels of government to make this pilot a success.”
