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Midwaste is delivering a free residential solar panel recycling trial with four member Councils:
Coffs Harbour City Council (CHCC) will be joining the trial soon.
This trial allows residents to drop off their old household solar panels at designated waste recovery centres for in-country recycling at no cost. That’s correct, it’s FREE and they are recycled here in Australia!
Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels generally have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years and will naturally degrade or lose efficiency over time. Solar panel waste is on the rise nationwide as more households install solar and many older systems are now reaching their end-of-life. Australia currently generates more than 2 million end-of-life solar panels each year. Through responsible recycling, we can divert up to 95% of solar panel materials from landfill and regenerate much-needed commodities such as silver and aluminium for reuse in the circular economy.Solar panels are made up of several components (glass, plastic, aluminium and other valuable metals) and each piece has a unique recycling process.
We accept:
-monofacial panels (1.7m tall x 1m wide)
-thin film panels
-bifacial (glass on glass panels).
Intact, monofacial panels (those commonly used for household solar systems) are preferred as they see significantly higher recyclability rates.
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Example of intact panels
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Example of damaged panels
We do not accept:
As this funding is provided for local residents, we may not be able to accept panels generated by solar installers who are replacing old panels as part of a business/service to households.If you have larger quantities of panels to recycle (more than 20), please contact your local waste facility to discuss options as some may accept larger quantities.
Where can I drop off my solar panels?
Drop your old solar panels at the designated areas at your nearest waste recovery centre:
Port Macquarie
Kew Domestic Waste Facility
95 Herons Creek Road
Open daily from 8am to 4pm
Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Port Macquarie Domestic Waste Facility
70 Kingfisher Road, off John Oxley Drive
Open daily from 8am to 4pm
Closed Christmas Day.
Wauchope Domestic Waste Facility
31 Commerce Street, off King Creek Road
Open daily from 8am to 4pm.
Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Cairncross Waste Management Facility
351 Telegraph Point Road, Pembrooke
Open Mon-Fri from 7am to 4pm
Open Saturdays 8am-4pm
Closed Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Kempsey
Kempsey Waste Management Centre (KSC)
638 Crescent Head Road, Kempsey
Monday to Friday 7:00am to 4.30pm
Saturday and Sunday 9:00am to 4:00pm
Closed on Christmas Day (25 December)
Bellingen
Raleigh Waste Management Centre (BSC)
146 Shortcut Road, Raleigh
Open Wednesday to Monday 8am - 4pm
Closed: Tuesdays & Public Holidays
Nambucca
Nambucca Waste Management Facility (NVC)
711 Old Coast Road, Nambucca Heads
8.00am – 4.00pm 7 days per week
The facility will be closed on Public Holidays.
This free recycling trial will start mid-2025 and run for approximately 6 months (depending on volumes received).
Take advantage of this opportunity to responsibly recycle your old solar panels, for free.
Solar panels contain valuable materials that can be recovered and reused:
By recycling your solar panels through this trial, you're helping reduce landfill waste and supporting the circular economy.
For more information contact info@midwaste.org.au
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