TERREPOWER launched its solar panel recycling line from its facility in Sparta, TN. TERREPOWER said it offers complete separation of solar panel materials such as aluminum, glass, precious metals, silicon, plastic and components, which allows for more efficient offloading of materials for reuse. This is a significant departure from traditional recycling methods, the company said.

“We can reduce environmental waste by getting the most value out of the original component before it’s recycled,” Maria Caballero, president of TERREPOWER said. “With the addition of our fully automated recycling machine, it now enables us to address the solar waste issue while complementing our existing sustainable manufacturing process.”

The Sparta facility is currently capable of handling up to 160,000 panels per year for recycling, according to the company. As the company ramps up operations and additional recycling projects emerge, this capacity is expected to increase significantly in the next few years.

“Our goal is to divert solar waste from landfills and utilize waste streams efficiently,” Caballero said. “Bringing recycling in-house allows us to service our customers under one roof while significantly scaling up our recycling efforts.”

In the past year alone, TERREPOWER said it recycled more than 2,000,000 pounds of solar panels through partnerships, equivalent to roughly 40,000 panels. With the introduction of in-house recycling, TERREPOWER said it aims to recycle 8,000,000 pounds of solar waste annually.

TERREPOWER said its recycling capabilities extend to all monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels. The company collaborates with various partners to repurpose separated materials, including glass for construction and aluminum for local applications.