In the UK, wind turbine blades, often made of composite...

In the UK, wind turbine blades, often made of composite materials like fiberglass, are largely being buried in landfills when they reach the end of their lifespan. This is due to the challenges and high costs associated with recycling these large, durable structures. While some blades are being used in limited repurposing projects or processed through pyrolysis (a thermal process), the majority are still going to landfills.

Landfilling:
Due to the difficulty and expense of recycling, many decommissioned wind turbine blades are being disposed of in landfills.

• Recycling Challenges:

  Wind turbine blades are designed to be lightweight, durable, and withstand harsh weather conditions for 20+ years, making them difficult to recycle.

• Environmental Concerns:

  While the blades themselves aren't considered toxic, the sheer volume of material being landfilled raises concerns about landfill space and resource utilization.

Turbines from the 1990s are reaching the end of their working lives.