Jarrod Reedie Solar panels have a lifespan of approximately 25 years and photovoltaic (PV) systems deliver a positive return for decades after their cost is recovered, but by 2035, Australia’s waste stream will contain over 100,000 tonnes of solar panels. Australia has the highest proportion of household PV systems in the world, with more than 21 percent of homes now possessing a solar energy system. There is currently no clear waste management plan for solar panels within Australia, and with the materials being classed as e-waste, it means that panels cannot be simply thrown into landfill sites. There is roughly only $5 worth of recyclable materials found in a single solar panel, and experts believe there must be a plan in place before many of the solar panels that sit atop the roofs of Australian suburbia are replaced or thrown out.