A doable ban on dumping end-of-life photo voltaic panels and batteries into landfill has been placed on the agenda for the Sunshine State.
Queensland Atmosphere Minister Meaghan Scanlon on Sunday unveiled a draft e-products plan that includes a proposal to ban photo voltaic panels and different associated gear from being dumped into landfill.
Nearly 1000 tonnes of photo voltaic photovoltaic (photo voltaic PV) and battery storage was dumped into landfills throughout the state in 2019 and that determine is anticipated to develop.
“It’s forecast that by 2030 the combination of e-waste generated every year will change considerably. Photo voltaic PV and battery storage waste will develop the quickest to over 17,000 tonnes,” the 28-page draft report reads.
Research have proven the panels’ heavy metals, primarily specifically lead and cadmium, can leach out and contaminate groundwater, doubtlessly inflicting severe hurt on vegetation and human well being.
The 10-year draft plan will probably be complemented by an industry-led photo voltaic panel recycling scheme, with the federal government tipping in an preliminary $250,000 to fund a two-stage pilot program.
The pilot will firstly determine members and locations to divert end-of-life photo voltaic panels from landfill, and develop a monitoring and data system to log volumes and places of recovered supplies.
Finish-of-life dilemmas
On-ground assortment, restoration and recycling of panels will then kind the main target of the pilot’s second stage. Members of the general public, {industry} and enterprise representatives have been invited to present suggestions on the draft motion plan by April 17.
“With the very best rooftop photo voltaic penetration within the nation, we have to discover how we cope with panels after they attain the top of their life,” Ms Scanlon stated in an announcement.
“The draft plan reveals that Queensland is severe about coping with digital waste and now we wish to hear from Queenslanders and {industry} to ensure we get it proper.”
Different measures raised within the draft technique embrace a cellular restore service to journey to regional areas to increase the lifetime of e-products and equipping e-products retailers with academic supplies to “purchase higher, select properly and make it final”.
-AAP
