The claim that solar panels will significantly contribute to overfilling landfills is unfounded. While there are concerns about the disposal of aging solar panels, the overall environmental impact of solar panel waste is minimal when compared to the waste generated by fossil fuels. According to a 2023 study published in Nature Physics, if we do not transition to renewable energy, the waste from fossil fuels, such as coal ash and oily sludge, would be 300-800 times and 2-5 times greater, respectively, than waste from photovoltaic (PV) modules over the next 35 years.(2) Although the current recycling rate for solar panels in the U.S. is relatively low (10%-15%), significant advancements are being made to improve this. The U.S. Department of Energy has allocated resources through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to enhance solar panel recycling rate.(3). Countries with modern recycling facilities, like France, can achieve up to a 95% recovery rate for materials in solar panels that includes valuable resources like silver, copper, and crystalline silicon.(4)
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