NSW Consults on Australia's First Solar Recycling Mandate
NSW Consults on Australia's First Solar Recycling Mandate
Anonymous
Key Points
1
NSW has more than 1.18 million rooftop solar systems across homes, businesses, schools and community facilities, making it the national leader in solar uptake and indicating the scale of the future waste challenge.
2
The draft rules would require suppliers to submit annual reports detailing the volume of photovoltaic panels imported, sold, collected and processed in NSW, with decommissioned panels directed to licensed e-waste processors.
3
The consultation is seeking input from unions, industry, recyclers, manufacturers, researchers, local governments, workers and community members on the investment and other measures needed to develop a circular solar-panel economy.
4
Public submissions on the draft regulation are open until November 16, 2026.
5
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said NSW was ensuring rooftop solar panels “don’t become tomorrow’s landfill problem” and that the scheme could support recycling and manufacturing opportunities in the state.
New South Wales is launching Australia's first mandatory solar-panel recycling scheme, requiring manufacturers, importers and brand owners to fund collection and recycling for end-of-life panels pv-magazine. The state generates about 14,000 tonnes of solar-panel waste annually, a figure projected to reach 89,000 tonnes by 2045 pv-magazine.
The draft rules would require suppliers to submit annual reports on panel volumes imported and sold, with decommissioned panels directed to licensed e-waste processors pv-magazine-australia. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the scheme would prevent rooftop solar panels from becoming "tomorrow's landfill problem" while supporting recycling and manufacturing jobs The Epoch Times.
NSW Leads With 1.18 Million Rooftop Systems
New South Wales has more than 1.18 million rooftop solar systems across homes, businesses, schools and community facilities, making it the national leader in solar adoption pv-magazine. This massive installed base signals the scale of the future waste challenge. The state must plan now to handle the panels that will reach end-of-life in the next 15 to 20 years.
Recovery Targets Will Keep Materials Out of Landfills
The scheme aims to recover valuable materials including aluminum, glass, silicon, copper and silver from decommissioned panels pv-magazine. Suppliers must establish reporting requirements and hit recovery targets to prevent panels from entering landfills. Licensed e-waste processors will handle the recycling and resource recovery work required under the new rules.
Investment and Job Creation in Circular Manufacturing
Officials say the scheme could attract investment and create skilled jobs while supporting local recycling, remanufacturing and broader circular-manufacturing industries Lismore App. The consultation is seeking input from unions, industry, recyclers, manufacturers, researchers, local governments and workers on the measures needed to develop a circular solar-panel economy. Public submissions are open until November 16, 2026 Lismore App.
Public Consultation Shapes Final Regulation
The NSW government is consulting with stakeholders across the solar industry to refine the draft regulation and identify support measures pv-magazine-australia. Community members, unions and local governments are encouraged to submit feedback on how the scheme should operate. The final rules will reflect input gathered during this public consultation period.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
17
Articles
11
Reach
28
A
AnonymousAuthor
