In August 2024, Queensland launched a Solar Panel Stewardship pilot program (recycling, reuse, recovery) in partnership with the Smart Energy Council. The pilot program has A$5.5 million in funding drawn and is anticipated to save about 26 tonnes of waste from landfill.
Queensland Household Solar Panel Recovery Pilot – Final Report
The Miles Labor Government has officially launched Australia’s leading solar panel recycling, reuse and recovery pilot, in partnership with the Smart Energy Council.
The program, announced earlier this year, will deliver solar panel recycling across the state, and guide better practice in the renewable energy sector by improving industry engagement with communities.
The Solar Panel Stewardship program was officially launched in Redlands as part of Community Cabinet, with six solar panel collection sites across the state now confirmed.
The sites include Capalaba and North Lakes in greater Brisbane, along with the Gold Coast, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Townsville.
A total of 15 locations will be announced in the coming weeks, covering large swathes of the state.
The pilot is supported by almost $5.5 million in funding as part of the Queensland Government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund, and the Queensland Renewable Energy Industry Association Grant to deliver the end-of-life solar panel recovery trial.
The product stewardship pilot is designed to test the feasibility of collection, re-use and recycling for solar panels from homes, businesses and solar farms, ensuring a significant reduction in landfill.
The program plans for the future, and will inform the creation of a national stewardship scheme.
The trial will also incorporate two regional ‘legacy runs’ in which local councils will gather household panels for pickup, and installers and importers with accumulated stock are included in the collection.
Miles Labor Government delivering Australia’s leading solar panel recycling scheme
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