Discarding Used Solar Panels in Landfills Poses ‘Significant’ Pollution Risk, Gov’t Says

Global Affairs Canada is seeking a contractor who can present an environmentally friendly way to recycle solar panels.
Discarding Used Solar Panels in Landfills Poses ‘Significant’ Pollution Risk, Gov’t Says
A worker installs solar panels on the rooftop of a house in Pomona, Calif., on Oct. 19, 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images
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Landfilling of used solar panels poses a “significant” pollution risk due to toxic chemicals potentially leaching into groundwater, a government document says.

To solve this issue, Global Affairs Canada is seeking a contractor who can present a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to recycle solar panels, according to a July 23 notice on the government website.

“Solar panels have valuable materials, including critical materials such as aluminum, tellurium, and antimony as well as gallium and indium in some thin-film modules, which are currently not being recycled once the panels reach their end of life,” said the notice posted by Global Affairs Canada.

Chandra Philip
Chandra Philip
Author
Chandra Philip is a news reporter with the Canadian edition of The Epoch Times.