There you go - showing us how you and I guess it must be your fellow Ozzies disregard the environment
In the real world, where the adults live, people do it differently
“ Solar Panel Recycling in France and Germany
**France and Germany have established systems for recycling solar panels, with increasing capacity and innovation to meet the growing volume of end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) modules.**
### France
- In 2023, France collected over 5,200 tonnes of end-of-life solar panels, representing about 260,000 panels—a 37% increase over the previous year. Of the 3,600 tonnes processed, 90% were recycled, a rate described as “very encouraging” for the sector[5][3].
- The French eco-organization Soren coordinates the collection and recycling of PV panels, using both direct site pickups and voluntary drop-off points for private individuals and professionals[5].
- Innovative companies like ROSI and Veolia operate specialized recycling facilities. The ROSI plant, launched in 2018, and Veolia’s site in Rousset, use advanced processes (thermal, mechanical, and chemical) to recover high-purity silicon, silver, glass, aluminum, and other materials[2][4][6].
- France’s recycling infrastructure is expanding to accommodate anticipated growth, with projections of up to 40,000 tonnes of panels to be collected annually by 2030[5].
- Most used panels are recycled domestically, but there are concerns about a parallel market exporting used panels to Africa and Asia, which poses environmental and health risks if not properly managed[5].
### Germany
- Germany, as Europe’s largest solar market, is experiencing a rapid increase in PV waste, with projections of 400,000 to 1,000,000 tonnes of modules needing disposal and recycling annually by 2030[1][7].
- The country operates under the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive, implemented through national legislation (ElektroG), which mandates that manufacturers are responsible for the collection, logistics, and recycling of PV modules placed on the market[1].
- Germany has set minimum quotas: an 85% recovery rate (including reuse, refurbishment, and recycling) and an 80% recycling rate for PV module mass[1].
- Collection points are available for both private households and commercial users, with certified treatment facilities sorting and processing the waste. Manufacturers can join collective take-back systems like PV Cycle or set up their own[1].
- Companies such as Reiling and the French firm ROSI (now operating in Germany) are innovating in the recycling of valuable materials like silicon and silver, aiming to close the loop and support a circular economy for solar hardware[7][2].
### Cross-Border and European Initiatives
- PV CYCLE, a pan-European organization, coordinates collection and recycling across Europe, with nearly 50 voluntary collection points in France and recycling plants in Germany, Italy, Spain, and Belgium.
- The European Union is investing in projects to improve recycling rates and develop new technologies for recovering more materials from PV panels[4].
### Summary Table: Solar Panel Recycling in France vs. Germany
| Aspect | France | Germany |
|--------------------------|---------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| Collection (2023) | 5,200+ tonnes (37% increase) | 400,000–1,000,000 tonnes projected by 2030 |
| Recycling Rate | Up to 90% | 80% minimum (by law) |
| Key Operators | Soren, ROSI, Veolia | Stiftung EAR, Reiling, ROSI |
| Legal Framework | National, EU WEEE directive | ElektroG (WEEE implementation) |
| New Facilities | ROSI plant (2018), Veolia (Rousset) | Expanding, with innovation focus |
| Challenges | Parallel export market, capacity expansion | Capacity expansion, circularity |
### Conclusion
Solar panels in both France and Germany are being recycled, with dedicated infrastructure, legal requirements, and innovative processes in place. Both countries are scaling up efforts to handle the anticipated surge in PV waste, aiming to recover valuable materials and minimize environmental impact[1][2][3][5][6][7].
Sources
[1] [PDF] Status of PV Module Take-Back and Recycling in Germany - IEA-PVPS https://iea-pvps.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IEA-PVPS-T12-27-Report-PV-Recycling-in-Germany.pdf
[2] How a French start-up is recycling Europe's solar panels - Euronews https://www.euronews.com/business/2023/01/10/how-a-french-start-up-is-recycling-europes-solar-panels
[3] France - REN21 https://www.ren21.net/gsr-2024/snapshots/france/
[4] Recycling materials from green energy technologies (Signal) https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/europe...ds/indicators/recycling-from-green-technology
[5] Record collection of end-of-life solar panels in France in 2023 https://energynews.pro/en/record-collection-of-end-of-life-solar-panels-in-france-in-2023/
[6] Circular economy: recycling photovoltaic panels - Veolia https://www.veolia.com/en/newsroom/news/recycling-photovoltaic-panels-circular-economy-france
[7] Closing the Solar Circle | Markets Germany Magazine 3/24 https://www.gtai.de/en/invest/service/publications/markets-germany/closing-the-solar-circle-1844538
[8] ROSI is selected by Soren to recycle photovoltaic modules in France https://www.rosi-solar.com/news/rosi-is-selected-by-soren-to-recycle-photovoltaic-modules-in-france
[9] France recycled 3800 tons of solar modules in 2022 - PV Magazine https://www.pv-magazine.com/2023/07/17/france-recycled-3800-tons-of-solar-modules-in-2022/
