Making solar panels creates pollution and uses harmful chemicals. For instance, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that by 2050, discarded solar panels could amount to 78 million tons of waste globally. When these panels get old, recycling them is expensive and difficult. . If you are disposing of solar panels that are hazardous waste, then regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) must be followed to make sure the panels are safely recycled or disposed of. Using solar energy can have a positive, indirect effect on the environment when solar energy replaces or reduces the use of other energy sources that have larger effects on the environment. . Estimates from the U. But what happens to them when they reach the end of their life? We're at the start of a massive waste stream, set to grow to 60 million tonnes globally by 2050. Researchers at CEG and EEMCS are working hard on solutions.
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