Pictures reveal solar panels flogged for $5, with most ending up in Australian landfill

As the green energy sector boasts about the four million Australians with rooftop solar, thousands of tonnes of old panels are ending up in landfill. See the photos.

NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe recently warned almost 60,000 tonnes of solar panels were heading for landfill in 2025 alone.

Millions of second-hand solar panels are being thrown in rubbish tips, with state and federal governments failing to implement a mandatory recycling scheme.

As the green energy sector heralds the four million Australians with rooftop solar, almost 60,000 tonnes of panels end up in landfill every year.

The Daily Telegraph has uncovered advertisements on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, where old panels are being sold for as little as $5.

“16 solar panels – all working. Cheap price. $6 each. St Clair,” one listing reads.

“$5 each. 16 solar panels available. Pick up in Blakehurst,” another states.

A source in the green energy sector told this masthead he believed many people were “rushing out to upgrade their panels and buy a battery with Chris Bowen’s new incentives.”

Earlier this year Energy Minister Mr Bowen announced a $2.3bn package which promised taxpayer-funded discounts on household batteries.

Mr Bowen’s scheme was boosted in June by the NSW Labor government, which announced it was “doubling” the incentives to almost $5000 per unit.

The source, who works in green energy installations said “a lot of solar panels would still work, but the government’s incentives are now too good to refuse, so people have just been throwing the old ones away.”

Figures released last month estimated Australia would throw out 59,340 tonnes of solar panels this year, with the number increasing to 91,165 tonnes by 2030.

Solar panels dumped at a landfill in Griffith NSW. Picture: Supplied

The majority of old units are delivered to Sydney’s largest rubbish tips, including Bingo at Eastern Creek and Kimbriki on the Northern Beaches, who charge a standard fee of more than $400 per tonne.

Mr Bowen declined to answer specific questions from this masthead.

Penny Sharpe, the NSW Energy Minister said “for too long there has been inaction” on solar recycling.

“NSW is leading working with State and Federal Energy Ministers to progress a national mandatory product stewardship scheme for solar panels, which will see them recycled or reused.”

“The scheme will drive down waste and grow the remanufacturing industry that is good for jobs,” Minister Sharpe said.

Solar panels are being sold for as little as $5. Picture: Supplied.

Opposition spokesman James Griffin said the former Coalition government had given more than $7m three years ago to assist with solar panel recycling.

PV Industries co-founder James Petesic said his Sydney company was using a machine which could recycle almost 90 per cent of solar panel components.

“We can remove the frame, junction box, cable and the glass and collect the aluminium, copper, silver and silicone which is sold for scrap metal and to the construction industry,” Mr Petesic told the Telegraph.

Mr Petesic said his method took “about a minute” and could process hundreds of panels a day, with the main issue being a variety of plastics.

NSW opposition energy and environment spokesman James Griffin said the former Coalition government had provided $7.4m in 2022 to “kickstart the recycling of solar panels”.

“Now, every solar panel should be recycled and the fact they are not is ridiculous, they should not be ending up in landfill.” Mr Griffin said.

A joint statement this month from 60 industry, business, unions and environmental groups, including the Smart Energy Council, called for the Albanese Government to establish a “mandatory product stewardship scheme” for old solar panels.

Separately, a spokesman for the Clean Energy Council said a “national recycling scheme is the best way to make sure solar waste is managed properly and consistently across Australia.

“The technology exists and we can do it at scale with the right policy framework” the spokesman said.

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Originally published as Pictures reveal solar panels flogged for $5, with most ending up in Australian landfill