{"id":714514,"date":"2026-06-04T09:51:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T09:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/714514\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T09:51:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T09:51:09","slug":"solar-recycling-state-tips-17-8-million-into-waste-pv-and-battery-collection-processing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/714514\/","title":{"rendered":"Solar recycling: State tips $17.8 million into waste PV and battery collection, processing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Western Australia has joined the very slow march of state and federal governments acting to solve the problem of solar panel and battery recycling, with a $17.8 million spend on one of the most difficult aspects of renewable energy stewardship: waste collection.<\/p>\n

The Cook Labor government on Wednesday announced a $13 million investment in the establishment of a new collection, transport, and processing pathways for end-of-life solar panels from both households and solar farms in the state.<\/p>\n

A separate $3 million is being spent on the roll-out of \u201cembedded battery collection\u201d at local government facilities, while a further $1.8 million is being set aside to support the ongoing delivery of both programs.<\/p>\n

The WA move follows the federal Labor government\u2019s\u00a0January launch of a $25 million pilot program<\/a>\u00a0to establish up to 100 solar panel collection sites across the country, spurred by an enormous amount of industry-led campaigning and off the back of a trial in Queensland.<\/p>\n

At the same time, a federal parliamentary inquiry into solar stewardship is being conducted, following a referral from federal environment minister Murray Watt, and in February\u00a0put out a call<\/a>\u00a0for written submissions to guide its\u00a0terms of reference<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Smart Energy Council, which led the Queensland pilot, has warned that more than four million panels are being decommissioned around Australia each year, with only a small number of those recycled or reused. One of the key barriers, the SEC says, is the cost of getting the panels to the recyclers.<\/p>\n

In WA, the Cook government seems to have taken this on board, making panel \u2013 and battery \u2013\u00a0collection the focus of the funding.<\/p>\n

The state\u2019s energy and environment ministers say the investment will also lay the foundations for a new local recycling industry by unlocking private sector investment and creating jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese programs will reduce waste to landfill, recover valuable materials, and improve how we manage complex waste streams like solar panels and embedded batteries,\u201d said state environment minister Matthew Swinbourn, in a statement<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy strengthening our waste and recycling system, we are protecting our environment while supporting a more sustainable future for Western Australians.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs WA moves towards becoming a global clean energy powerhouse, this investment will ensure we are prepared for the future,\u201d said state energy minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore solar panels and batteries are coming into use every day and we need systems to manage them at end-of-life, reducing waste and supporting a circular economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis announcement is good for local jobs, good for local businesses and good for our environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you would like to join more than 29,000 others and get the latest clean energy news delivered straight to your inbox, for free, please\u00a0click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter.<\/a><\/p>\n

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