Smashing Solar Panels: Recycling to Save From Landfills

• Help save the planet and the environment with We Recycle Solar. This four-year-old startup recycles solar panels instead of sending them to landfills, with a goal of processing 1 million panels by year-end. They're already making a difference and preparing for the future by seeking funding to expand across the US. Join the mission to save the planet!

We Recycle Solar Inc. is a four year old startup that has built a profitable business recycling solar panels instead of sending them to landfills. According to Rystad Energy, the market for recycled materials from solar panels may reach $2.7 billion a year by 2030 and $80 billion by 2050. We Recycle Solar has already processed more than 500,000 panels and they expect to reach 1 million by yearend. They have a multi-pronged strategy which includes hauling away old panels, reselling those that still work, and extracting basic materials from those that don't. They have shipped used panels to countries such as Turkey, Panama, and Morocco. Currently, there are no federal regulations for disposal but Washington state has a policy that mandates environmentally sound disposal practices for panels starting in 2025. We Recycle Solar is seeking funding to improve their panel-smashing system and to expand. They want to build four more sites across the US in the next three to five years to prepare for the millions of panels that will require disposal in the coming years.

How Can We Recycle Solar Profit From Solar Panels?

• Developing a holistic approach to recycle solar panels, which includes hauling away old panels, reselling those that still work, and extracting materials from those that don't.
• Building four more sites across the US in the next three to five years to prepare for the millions of solar panels that will require disposal in the coming years.
• Seeking funding to improve their panel-smashing system and to expand in order to meet the growing demand for solar panel recycling.
• Utilizing environmentally sound disposal practices for panels mandated by the state of Washington beginning in 2025.
• Exploring the potential for repurposing parts of solar panels for other uses such as in automotive components, building materials, and other products.
• Identifying and collaborating with other companies and research institutions that are looking into solutions for solar panel recycling.
• Allocating resources and investments towards research and development for new technologies that can safely and efficiently recycle solar panels.