{"id":828,"date":"2019-11-18T12:31:28","date_gmt":"2019-11-18T20:31:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/?p=828"},"modified":"2023-02-13T00:14:47","modified_gmt":"2023-02-13T08:14:47","slug":"how-to-dispose-of-solar-panels-a-complete-green-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/how-to-dispose-of-solar-panels-a-complete-green-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Dispose of Solar Panels: A Complete Green Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}<\/style>\n<p>Producing electricity with solar panels has gained\npopularity in recent years because the panels have become lighter and more\nefficient. But, with the increase in solar panel use has come a new realization,\nthe world is heading towards a new crisis when it comes to the safe disposal of\nsolar cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how do you dispose of solar panels? <strong>The best\nway to dispose of solar panels is to safely recycle them using a reputable\ndealer. There are two distinct types of solar panels, and each undergoes\nsimilar yet different recycling methods; silicon and thin-film solar panels. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"924\" height=\"616\" src=\"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/how-to-dispose-of-solar-panels-a-complete-guide-1024.jpg\" alt=\"How to Dispose of Solar Panels: A Complete Green Guide\" class=\"wp-image-837\" srcset=\"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/how-to-dispose-of-solar-panels-a-complete-guide-1024.jpg 924w, https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/how-to-dispose-of-solar-panels-a-complete-guide-1024-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/how-to-dispose-of-solar-panels-a-complete-guide-1024-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"924\" height=\"616\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20924%20616'%3E%3Crect%20width='924'%20height='616'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"How to Dispose of Solar Panels: A Complete Green Guide\" class=\"wp-image-837 eager-load\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/how-to-dispose-of-solar-panels-a-complete-guide-1024.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/how-to-dispose-of-solar-panels-a-complete-guide-1024.jpg.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/how-to-dispose-of-solar-panels-a-complete-guide-1024.jpg.webp 924w, https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/how-to-dispose-of-solar-panels-a-complete-guide-1024-300x200.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/how-to-dispose-of-solar-panels-a-complete-guide-1024-768x512.jpg.webp 768w\" data-svg=\"1\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This article will concentrate on the disposal of the\ntwo types of solar panels by recycling with a look at the pros and cons of doing\nso, plus the consequences to humanity if we do not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How\nTo Dispose of Solar Panels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Solar Panels have a lifespan of twenty-five years and\neventually will need to be replaced. However, how do homeowners dispose of them\nonce they have outlived their usefulness? The answer is they need to be\nrecycled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking for a place to recycle solar panels, however,\ncan be difficult, depending on where you live in the world. In the United\nStates, there are only a few businesses specializing in the recycling of solar\npanels, so most panels that are submitted for recycling are being warehoused\nuntil a solution is found for the U.S. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is an exception as Washington state became the\nfirst to pass a law mandating that the manufacturers of solar panels create and\nutilize recycling for their products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, in Europe, it is an entirely different story. Europe has mandated recycling for all solar panels and has established businesses that specialize in the breakdown and reuse of the materials that make up solar panels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Solar Basics: How to plan ahead for U.S. solar panel recycling\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/W6PfFPNxn2I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\nNot To Do With Broken or Old Solar Panels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, in the United States, only two states have\nany regulations regarding the disposal of solar panels. This is a sobering fact\nas solar panels that once were used to generate electricity can, in fact, end\nup in landfills where they become a poisonous danger to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once solar panels have passed their usefulness, the\nworst thing a homeowner or business owner can do is to relegate them to a\nlandfill. Unfortunately, this is the fate of a significant percentage of solar\npanels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even worse, some businesses who claim to recycle solar\npanels themselves actually try to mitigate the inflated cost of sorting the\nmaterials by shipping them to poor countries where children and the poor are\nforced to pick through the waste. In the process, these people are exposed to\ncarcinogens and other unhealthy chemicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bottom line? Do not dispose of solar panels by either\nthrowing them into a landfill or by allowing a business that has not been\nwell-vetted to take them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How\nis Silicon Solar Panels Recycled?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Silicon solar panels contain a number of materials that are highly\nrecyclable. Each material equals a percentage of the panel including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>76%\nglass<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>10%\nplastic<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>8%\naluminum<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>1%\nmetal<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also copper components that have become popular material\ndue to its price when sold on the open market and 5% silicon, which cannot be\nrecycled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of the prohibitive cost of separating the components,\nthere are currently only two options for recycling solar panels. Solar panels\ncan be recycled at general-purpose glass recycling facilities or at one of the\nnew recycling facilities that are popping up that specialize in recycling solar\npanel components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After recycling silicon solar panels 100% of the metal, 85% of the silicon modules are given new lives in other products or to make other solar panels. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Renogy-Monocrystalline-Photovoltaic-Battery-Charging\/dp\/B00AQQAAQW\/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=silicon+solar+panels&amp;qid=1573647263&amp;s=lawn-garden&amp;sr=1-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">(Amazon Link)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How\nare Thin Film Solar Panels Recycled<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Like those made from silicon, thin-film solar panels are\nrecyclable. The percentage of materials that can be reused from thin-film solar\npanels is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>89%\nglass<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>6%\naluminum<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>4%\nplastic<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>1%\nmetal<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You may have noticed that there are fewer materials from thin-film\nsolar panels that are recycled, but by nature, thin-film solar panels have less\nto them as they are smaller and lighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Basically, the different components are separated via mechanical\nand chemical means, and each gathered together to be remade into new products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why\nShould Solar Panels Be Recycled?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The use of solar panels more than doubled between 2012\nand 2015 and is going to triple by 2020. The reason for this significant\nincrease in this decade is because of government subsidies and mandated\nrecycling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, solar panels contain toxic metals like lead\nthat can damage the human nervous system and cadmium that can cause cancer. Both\nmetals are known to leach out of solar panels that have been thrown into\nlandfills and into drinking water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, proper disposal of solar panels is vital to the\nhealth of the planet and the human beings who live upon it.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recycling\nSolar Panels for Home Use<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Recycling solar panels that have been used on the\nroofs of homes are perhaps where the most waste comes from in regard to\ndisposing of solar panels after they have become obsolete. Homeowners generally\ndo not have the funds to worry about where their old and worn out panels go, so\na lot of solar panels go to landfills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, homeowners can expect to pay nothing to have\ntheir solar panels removed by a reputable recycling company as these companies\nresell the components they harvest from old solar panels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the future, it is hoped that there will be monetary\nincentives for homeowners to recycle their solar panels, but at least they are\nnot charged for their removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recycling\nSolar Panels for Business Use <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Businesses, especially in the manufacturing realm, are\nbeginning to find the cost savings of using solar panels in their plants and\noffice spaces. Especially in areas where the cost of electricity from traditional\nsources, the appeal of solar power is growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet, with the increase in the use of solar panels\ncomes the huge problem of knowing what to do with them when they are done being\nuseful. Of course, recycling is the answer, but businesses are finding it\ncostly to search for and hire recycling businesses that handle the toxic waste\nof solar panels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer to getting more businesses to recycle their\nsolar panels is to offer monetary incentives in the form of tax incentives and\nmonetary rewards for recycling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disposing\nof Solar Panels Through Charity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Orphanages and other public facilities in third world\ncountries are desperately in need of reliable and sustainable power from solar\npower.&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Africa, 600 million people live without access to\nelectricity. Instead, homes are lit at night using dangerous, dirty, and\nexpensive kerosene lamps that cause a myriad of health problems for children\nand house fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One way to dispose of solar panels that are old but\nstill useful is to give them to a charity such as Let There Be Light for\ndistribution to people living in Africa and other impoverished countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More solar power from solar panels means people around the world will live in much less dangerous conditions and have better well-being. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lettherebelightinternational.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">(Source: Let There Be Light)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is\nthe Use of Solar Panels as Green as People Think?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2016, Japan&rsquo;s announced the amount of solar panel waste in that country would increase, but they had no plans in place to know what to do with them once they had expired. The same can be said for many other countries. <a href=\"http:\/\/environmentalprogress.org\/big-news\/2017\/6\/21\/are-we-headed-for-a-solar-waste-crisis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">(Source: EnvironmentalProgress.org)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While using a solar panel to create energy for a home\nor business frees the home or business owner from the shackles of electricity\ncreated by the use of fossil fuels, they are by no means as green as people\nthink. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do you do with old solar panels? Once they have\noutlived their usefulness, where do their owners take them for disposal? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These questions and more are harder to answer than\nthey sound. For a person to go completely off the grid and be green, the solar\npanel technology they are using must be efficient and green as well, and solar\npanels simply are not.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\nthe United States Needs to Make Disposal of Solar Panels Safe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is obvious by what this article has covered so far\nthat proper disposal of solar panels is vital to the future health of American\ncitizens. To make the recycling of solar panels more feasible and&nbsp; attractive, the U.S. needs five things to\nhappen:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Federal\nIncentives to dispose of solar panels properly<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Laws to\nforce proper disposal of solar panels<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Solar\npanels manufactured with greener and safer materials<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>An\nincrease in proper recycling businesses<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>The\nformation of a regulatory organization<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Federal\nIncentives to Dispose of Solar Panels Properly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While some states offer tax incentives to homeowners\nand businesses to recycle their solar panels, the federal government of the\nUnited States is lagging behind in the amount they pay out as incentives.\nEurope already offers enormous incentives to its citizens that make recycling\nboth attractive and practical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Laws to Force\nProper Disposal of Solar Panels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Solar panels are currently listed in most states in\nthe U.S. as common waste, and it is lawful to send them to landfills. However,\nthis is changing as two states have now relegated solar panels to the list of\nhazardous materials that are unlawful to dispose of in that fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>California and Washington have passed laws forbidding\nthe disposal of solar panels, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean with unscrupulous motives\nwill not pay to have their waste hauled to another region where it is not\nillegal and where they are placed in landfills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Solar Panels\nManufactured with Greener and Safer Materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Current silicon-based solar panels that make up 80% of\nthe global market rely on materials that post a threat to humanity. To make\nsolar panels greener, manufacturers have begun experimenting with changing\ntheir product&rsquo;s components to include ones that are non-toxic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even better, many manufacturers of solar panels are\nresolving the disposal problem by making the components of their product\nrecyclable themselves independent of the recyclability of other parts of the\nsolar panel. This means they are focusing on each component one at a time to\nincrease its ability to be recycled, and eventually, the entire panel will be\nfully recyclable.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An Increase in\nthe Number of Proper Recycling Businesses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, in the United States, recycling businesses,\nwhen there are any, that handle solar panels are those that handle and recycle\nglass. As can be imagined, these businesses are incapable of protecting against\nenvironmental contamination from the different hazardous components in solar\npanel recycling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer would be for each state to designate and\nlicense recycling plants that deal with hazardous waste, including solar\npanels. The Europeans currently use this system and are having increasingly fewer\nproblems with their landfills filling up with solar panel waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Formation\nof a Regulatory Organization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One possible solution that is not currently\npolitically correct is the formation of a regulatory organization to oversee\nthe disposal of solar panels. The United States already has such an\norganization to watch over nuclear waste, yet as deadly a problem as nuclear\nwaste is becoming, there is far less of it than solar panel waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A regulatory organization could make rules and offer\nlicenses and incentives on a federal level that allows for the success of\nstopping solar panels from ending up in landfills and finding better and\ngreener solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recycling\nSolar Panels In Europe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Europe offers the best model of the recycling of solar\npanels through the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE\nDirective). The WEEE directive, along with the Restriction of Hazardous\nSubstances Directive (RoHS Directive) became law in February 2003. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The WEEE Directive set collection, recovery, and\nrecycling targets for all kinds of electrical goods, including solar panels. It\nalso sets restrictions on European manufacturers of solar panels for not only\ncreating solar panels but also on what happens to them when they have outlived\ntheir usefulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To be sure, the Europeans have moved far ahead in\ndealing with hazardous waste like solar panels and are moving ahead with plans\nto handle the enormous influx of the use and disposal of them in the\nfuture.&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The\nCost of the Wrongful Disposal of Solar Panels <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In November 2018, Japan&rsquo;s Environmental Ministry\nwarned that the number of solar panels that will become waste every year would\nrise from 10k to 800k by 2040. The problem? Japan has no plans in place to\nsafely dispose of the panels people will be throwing away as they wear out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem is larger than just the sheer number of\npanels that will be filling up our landfills. Solar panels create three-hundred\ntimes more toxic waste per unit of energy than nuclear power plants, a\nstartling revelation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only is the world faced with toxic waste entering\nour water supply from the wrongful disposal of solar panels, but countries like\nChina, India, and Ghana with communities that live near waste dumps where\nelectronics are salvaged for their valuable copper wiring burn the devices to\nget to the wiring. Burning releases fumes from the plastics resulting in smoke\nthat contains toxic fumes known to be carcinogens and to cause birth defects\nwhen breathed in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/environmentalprogress.org\/big-news\/2017\/6\/21\/are-we-headed-for-a-solar-waste-crisis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">(Source: Environmental Progress)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The\nPros and Cons of Recycling Solar Panels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The greatest pro for recycling solar panels is the\npositive effect it has on the environment. However, many solar panels are ending\nup in landfills even if the state the homeowner is living in has laws\nprotecting this from happening. This is because the waste ends up in landfills\nin other states. This poses an environmental hazard.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another pro for recycling solar panels is that some\nstates offer incentives in the form of tax breaks to recycle them. While this\namount is still small relative to the costs involved in installing solar power,\nit is a beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main con to recycling solar panels is there are so\nfew recycling plants specializing or dealing with solar panels. Most disposal\nplants are not set up to handle solar panels and the problems that go along\nwith recycling them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Solar panels are manufactured using hazardous\nmaterials like sulfuric acid and phosphine gas that make them dangerous and\ndifficult to recycle. In fact, solar panels create around 300 times more waste\nthan nuclear power plants in terms of the electricity they generate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How\nInnovation is Currently Making the Matter Worse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The technology of solar panels is a burgeoning\nindustry still in its infancy. Yes, great strides have been made in the past\nseveral years in making solar panels function better, but there are still many\nproblems that must be rectified before solar power can be considered completely\ngreen energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the process of creating better and cheaper solar\npanels, there have been and continue to be problems with the materials they are\nmanufactured from and their efficiency. To fix these problems, innovators have experimented\nwith materials that are highly toxic in an effort to gain a handhold on the\nmarket and sell more solar panels than their competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Normally competition is good for a product, but when\ndealing with solar panels, it is creating hazardous waste that is ending up in\nthe landfills of the United States and other countries where these heavy metals\nand poisonous components may take centuries to biodegrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The result of the innovation and competition in making\nsolar panels has meant that the market has been flooded by cheap solar panels\nthat only last five or so years, further complicating the equation. These\ncheaper alternatives are not friendly to the environment and can never be\nconsidered green energy.<\/p><p>This article is owned by SolarPowerGenie.com and was first published on November 18, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\nthe United States is Doing to Try and Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2015, the state of California passed Senate Bill\n489 that designated solar panels as hazardous materials, but the declaration\nwas focused at new and future solar panels, and so older panels were still\ngoing to either landfills, other state&rsquo;s landfills, or stacked up in California\nwarehouses awaiting a better alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One huge problem facing recycling plants in California\nwho wished to switch to dealing with solar panel waste is that the cost of\nrecycling the materials was more than the money that could be made in doing so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To end the problems, California opened a solar\nrecycling facility in Arizona called Recycle PV of Grass Valley.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recycle PV partnered with PV Cycle, a European not for\nprofit solar recycling organization to help bring their type of services to the\nU.S. The process shared by the European recycling organization separates the\naluminum frame, removes the junction box, and attached wires then runs the\nglass panel through an oven. The other materials are crushed to recover 98% of\nmaterials that can be reused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recycle PV also offered help in designing the\nrepurposing and reusing of solar panels. Those panels that can be repaired are\nsent to charitable organizations for disbursement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Better More Efficient Recycling of Solar\nPanels is Coming<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This article has thus far concentrated on the\nnegatives of solar energy using solar panels, but there is a definite advantage\nto using them to take care of our energy needs. One advantage is that sunshine\ndoesn&rsquo;t anything, and another is that using solar energy is good for the\nenvironment.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the recycling of solar panels is still\ninefficient and unregulated in many countries, it is still the greenest and\nsafest alternative to fossil and nuclear fuel that mankind has produced today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many groups of entrepreneurs who are working\ndiligently to create new ways to manage the waste created by spent solar panels,\nand one should not be afraid to explore using solar panels for energy. In the\nnear future, the solar panel problem will be defeated, and mankind will have a\ncheap, safe, and environmentally safe alternative to light our businesses and\nhomes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"> The Ultimate Green Solar Panel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, the manufacture of the components of solar\npanels and the panels themselves require fossil fuels in the manufacturing\nprocess. Research is being done to examine greener ways to produce solar panels\nso that in the future, even the making of a solar panel will be green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For now, all homeowners and businesspersons can do is to\nuse the products available today. By doing so, &nbsp;they can significantly reduce their carbon\nfootprint to help not just the planet, but also give those living upon it healthier\nand longer lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ultimate objective of using solar panels is to\nutilize the sun to create totally green energy, and that goal is just around\nthe corner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The\nCost of Using Solar Panels for Energy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost of installing a solar panel system isn&rsquo;t for\nthe faint of heart of the low-income homeowner. The average homeowner will pay\n$20,000 for the installation of solar panels on a 1,500 square foot home.\nLarger homes or businesses cost even more and can range up into the $30-40k\nrange after tax credits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The excessive cost one incurs when installing a solar\npanel system isn&rsquo;t due to the prohibitive cost of solar panels, which are\nrelatively cheap, it is the cost of labor that makes using solar panels for\nenergy prohibitive to most homeowners and small businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When choosing a solar panel system, one must take into\nconsideration the wattage that is needed. The more watts a home or business\nrequires, the higher the cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To be sure, there are tax benefits that help hold down\nthe cost of solar panels and their installation. The federal government of the\nUnited States now offers the investment tax credit (ITC) that allows those who\nchoose to go green to claim credits and receive a savings of nearly $9,000, and\nthis tax credit extends to both residential and commercial systems.&nbsp; <\/p><p>This article is owned by SolarPowerGenie.com and was first published on November 18, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If\nYou Want to Go Green, Use Solar Energy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Recycling solar energy via solar panels is a fantastic\nway to help reduce waste in landfills and still fulfill the energy needs of any\nbusiness or home. There are pros and cons to using solar panel technology, but\nthere are some distinct advantages, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>The\nreduction of electric bills<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Using a\nrenewable energy source<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Many\ndifferent applications for solar power<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Technology\nis moving along to making better, greener solar panels<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Solar\npanels require minimal maintenance costs<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>The\ncost of solar panels is coming down<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Having read this article, it is clear that using solar\nenergy via solar panels is not only greener but better for anyone who disperses\nthe funds to put it in place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Solar Power is Here to Stay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Solar energy via the use of solar panels is not going\nto go anywhere anytime soon. In fact, the manufacture of solar panels is\nprojected to more than triple in the next ten years. This means that more\npeople are thinking green and are wanting to reduce their dependence on fuels\nthat are not renewable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By recycling old solar panels or giving them to\ncharity when they still have some life left in them, one can become greener and\nsave money in the long run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As technology advances, going green will soon become the norm instead of the exotic solution to global warming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<p>Title image by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/matt_gibson\/1007914320\/in\/photolist-2x4PP7-2gn47CF-27q3wm1-b7aptK-24hCuNX-5L6DQr-JLaAbp-7GEJNr-2gHPozm-kEDRLH-2gm6LZm-7xNeoy-69VprN-4JACyR-oBqW6q-afWJ53-oBqYQJ-3m5ft-7HKxZh-U9AUkG-jkhnF-2grqn3a-HAqLPj-WymU8M-bv94Yz-HoE1vS-XMSGyv-4XJsbd-jFribF-61AiMi-DVhRVT-7o3Xhj-61AkM8-KumBYZ-Hgk5cG-8982yS-jkhkP-uFkgkY-8u6xa3-aB4xxb-ZhJYzY-5yK9eC-UZUeg9-U1HQ7B-ECFtW-myz5D5-ggV1u4-jFrST8-HMNGLT-gp58P4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"Matt Gibson (opens in a new tab)\">Matt Gibson<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Articles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/how-why-and-when-to-clean-your-solar-panels\/\">How, Why, And When To Clean Your Solar Panels<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/so-what-kind-of-maintenance-do-solar-panels-need\/\">So, What Kind of Maintenance Do Solar Panels Need?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/are-solar-batteries-cost-effective-we-break-it-down\/\">Are Solar Batteries Cost-Effective? We Break It Down<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/wind-power-vs-solar-power-which-is-better-for-our-homes\/\">Wind Power vs. Solar Power: Which is Better for Our Homes?<\/a><\/p><p>This article is owned by SolarPowerGenie.com and was first published on November 18, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/how-to-fix-or-reset-arlo-solar-panels-not-working-rp-2210\/\">How to Fix or Reset Arlo Solar Panels Not Working<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Producing electricity with solar panels has gained popularity in recent years because the panels have become lighter and more efficient. But, with the increase in solar panel use has come a new realization, the world is heading towards a new crisis when it comes to the safe disposal of solar cells. So, how do you &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":838,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"","disable-critical-css":false},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Dispose of Solar Panels: A Complete Green Guide - SolarPowerGenie.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/solarpowergenie.com\/how-to-dispose-of-solar-panels-a-complete-green-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Dispose of Solar Panels: A Complete Green Guide - SolarPowerGenie.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Producing electricity with solar panels has gained popularity in recent years because the panels have become lighter and more efficient. 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