Solar recycler losing “insane amount of money” and about to shed staff as PV pilot program remains suspended

The nascent solar panel recycling industry is increasingly desperate and beginning to lay off staff while recyclers wait for the federal government to restart its suspended pilot program, according to Troy Rowe, founder of ReSource.

The federal department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) hit pause in May on the first stage of the pilot after receiving a complaint about its administrator procurement process, as reported here by Renew Economy.

ReSource is among the companies to have invested heavily in premises, equipment and staff to recycle solar panels. Australia has led the world in the share of households installing rooftop solar, with more than 4.3 million homes hosting panels.

The Albanese government’s Cheaper Home Battery program, which has been taken up by more than 540,000 households since its start in June 2025, has also prompted many participants to replace their aging solar systems.

“There’s going to be a bigger waste stream than was planned,” Rowe told Renew Economy. “It’s going to be frighteningly large.”

The stalling of the pilot scheme, however, means would-be recyclers are draining money and pushing some to cut staff or review investment plans.

“We’re losing an insane amount of money” while ReSource waits for the next stage of the recycling program to get the green light, Rowe said.

He said his firm had also been one of the biggest recipients of government grants, collecting $7m to support its plants in Victoria and NSW.

“That $7m in taxpayer founds should be a concern. We’re throwing it down the drain,” Rowe said, adding that if the delay went on much longer, “I’m going to have to wind up the business”.

A DCCEEW spokesperson told Renew Economy “the government remains committed to the policy objectives of the National Solar Panel Recycling Pilot”.

“The procurement remains suspended in accordance with the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018,” the spokesperson said, without providing an indication when the pilot might be reactivated.

Industry sources suggest a single complainant might have gummed up the process, resulting in bureaucrats have to re-approve the whole policy.

“Investigate it – but for goodness sake, don’t just stop everything,” Rowe said.

The federal house of representatives inquiry into solar panel reuse and recycling in Australia will hold its final public hearing, next week in Sydney.

The Smart Energy Council, itself in the running to help tender the recycling scheme, is likely to make its impatience clear next week.

Before then, federal, state and territory environment ministers are also due to meet at Walkabout Creek in Brisbane on Friday.

The solar recycling stall is likely to be up for discussion, as well as the Albanese government’s recent surprise decision to ditch its plan to introduce its plastic recycling mandate during this term because of cost-of-living pressures – much to the dismay of the recycling industry.

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