• /home/pineapplelover@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    I’m more concerned with longevity and use of more environmentally friendly materials with solar panels than efficiency. In about 30 years or so, they reach their end of life so there will be hazardous waste resulting from that.

        • BlackLaZoR@kbin.run
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          3 months ago

          Some solar panels are considered hazardous waste, and some are not

          That’s horribly unspecific

          Lead and cadmium

          AFAIK in EU Leaded solder is forbidden since many years (outside of safety related equipment). Cadmium is regulated in similar fashion. Electronic equipment disposal and recycling is also strictly controlled.

          The whole thing looks like fear mongering.

          • /home/pineapplelover@lemm.ee
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            3 months ago

            Every few decades we would dump fields and fields of solar panels. I’m sure that’s not good for the environment. The heavy metals, batteries, manufacturing and transportation byproducts, even the plastics that could be used in packaging. Wish there was a better renewable energy solution with no waste.

            • BlackLaZoR@kbin.run
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              3 months ago

              Nobody talks about dumping these things in the field. Glass, silicon, and aluminum can be reused or disposed safely. As I said in previous post - in EU electronic waste is disposed properly without dumping whole things into a landfill. Solar panels aren’t even the hardest e-waste to deal with.