NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Centre and other authorities to respond to concerns about the improper disposal and recycling of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.
The order follows a letter petition filed by a farmer from Uttar Pradesh, who highlighted the lack of proper disposal facilities for used solar panels.
In its order dated December 23, the NGT bench, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A Senthil Vel, noted that the petitioner has been using solar panels for energy generation under the Kusum Yojna for irrigation in his village since 2019.
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The petition raised concerns about the lack of a proper life-cycle management system for damaged solar panels.
The bench observed that the damaged panels could not be repaired and had to be discarded as scrap.
However, the absence of adequate disposal infrastructure meant that these panels were either buried or sent to landfills, potentially harming soil quality.
The NGT also pointed out that the scrap value of the panels was limited, with dealers only accepting materials like aluminium, copper, and glass, while other components such as polymers and silicon were non-recyclable.
Furthermore, the NGT highlighted the environmental risks posed by PV panels, which contain harmful metals like lead and cadmium.
These substances, if not properly disposed of, could leach into the soil and water, causing long-term environmental damage.
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The tribunal also emphasised the absence of an established mechanism for the safe disposal and recycling of damaged solar panels.
The NGT noted that the petition raised critical issues related to the compliance with environmental norms, specifically the enforcement of the E-Waste (Management) Rules.
As a result, the tribunal impleaded the secretaries of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy as respondents.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), and the Lucknow office of MoEFCC were also made parties to the case.
The NGT has issued a notice to the respondents and scheduled the next hearing for February 10, 2024.
