As the number of solar farms in Australia grows, so does the controversy over heavy metals in solar panels and the difficulty of recycling them. Lynette LaBlack, a farmer in the Riverina region of southern New South Wales, has been questioning everyone who will listen with uncomfortable questions. She questioned Metka EGN regarding its solar project in Wagga Wagga, “Please supply a thorough inventory of all molecular inert ingredients elements in your company’s solar panels.” She further added, “Can you tell me what the toxicity rating is?” Ms LaBlack is enraged that the federal government, the NSW Department of Primary Industry, and the NSW Independent Planning Commission have all failed to respond to her concerns.
She believes they’ve all purposefully ignored, assessed, or researched the clear heavy-metal leaching risk that large-scale PV Solar poses in the midst of productive food resource land, yet she’s also curious about the specific measures being taken to mitigate this risk by each company, given the proliferation of solar PV panels across Australia.
Are Solar Panels Harmful?
In Victoria, the European Union, and parts of the United States, all solar panels are classified as hazardous e-waste, though California has amended this to make it easier to transport them for recycling. Victoria has forbidden them from being disposed of in landfills, preferring instead to recycle them to help Australia’s recycling sector grow. While there are worries about heavy metals and the difficulty of recycling the enormous and growing number of panels used around the world, the majority of scientists believe that solar panels are environmentally friendly if properly disposed of. The International Energy Agency investigated the risk of heavy metals leaking from solar panels to human health and found that it was below US screening limits, while water pollution levels were within WHO guidelines.
Cadmium Telluride Declared Safe
First Solar, based in California, manufactures cadmium telluride (CdTe) panels. CdTe, according to Parikhit Sinha, the company’s sustainability officer, is a stable molecule that has been proven safe. “The potential benefits and safety of First Solar’s CdTe PV technology across its full life cycle have been proven by more than 50 studies from the major US and international institutions,” he stated. That includes events like fires or storms that damaged modules and end-of-life recycling and disposal. The government and key players in the solar industry are hoping that by the time large numbers of panels reach the end of their life in Australia, a local company will have developed the specialised facilities needed to process all the different types of panels.
Follow The Indian Sun on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
