Quick answer
Australia is building the groundwork for national solar recycling. In January 2026 the federal government committed A$24.7 million to a national solar panel recycling pilot — funding collection points around the country to test how end-of-life panels are collected, transported and recycled, and to inform a future mandatory product-stewardship scheme.
What was announced
The pilot, described by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, aims to establish collection sites nationally and process a significant volume of panels, mostly from households and small businesses. It sits alongside NSW-led work on a national reuse and recycling scheme.
Why it matters
Until now, Australia has lacked a coordinated national system for end-of-life panels, so outcomes varied by state and by collector. A national pilot is the practical first step toward consistent collection and a stewardship scheme — the same kind of model already used for other e-waste. Treat specific thresholds and dates as evolving until the scheme is finalised.
What it means for you
For now, nothing changes about how you dispose of panels today: they still need to be collected and handled, and that still has a cost. What is changing is the direction — toward recycling and reuse as the expected default, and away from landfill. In Sydney, ReSova already collects and sorts panels this way; get an estimate with the online estimator, or read whether panels can go to landfill in our disposal-rules guide.
Key takeaways
- In January 2026 the federal government announced A$24.7 million for a national solar panel recycling pilot.
- It funds collection sites across Australia to test collection, transport and recycling of end-of-life panels.
- The pilot is designed to inform a future mandatory product-stewardship scheme.
- NSW is helping lead the national work; timelines and thresholds are still being finalised.
Frequently asked questions
What is the national solar panel recycling pilot?
A federally funded program (announced January 2026, A$24.7 million) to establish collection sites across Australia and test real-world collection, transport and recycling of end-of-life panels, informing a future product-stewardship scheme.
Does the pilot mean recycling is now free?
No. The pilot tests systems and gathers data; it does not remove the cost of collecting and handling panels today. In Sydney, ReSova still prices collection from quantity, postcode and access.
Is a mandatory scheme coming?
A mandatory national product-stewardship scheme is being worked toward, with NSW helping lead the interjurisdictional effort. Timelines and thresholds are still being finalised.
Get a collection estimate
ReSova collects old solar panels on site across Sydney, then sorts them for reuse or recycling. Check coverage and pricing for your postcode, or talk to the team.