RECYCLING
SOLAR PANEL
RECYCLING
SERVICE
Give your old solar panels a bright new future!
Solar panels don’t belong in landfill. Phoenix Recycling is leading the charge with New Zealand’s first and only authorised nationwide end-of-life solar panel recycling service, designed to recover valuable materials, reduce environmental impact, and support a circular clean energy system.
We hold multiple international permits to export hazardous waste, valid until 2026, which have been verified with the Environmental Protection Authority NZ, in accordance with the Basel Convention.
Please note: This service is currently only available at our yards in Whangārei, Onehunga, Hamilton, Blenheim, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Watch this space for further updates!
ENQUIRIES
Jordan Varley
E: Jordan@pmrnz.co.nz M: 0210681233
WHAT TYPE OF
SOLAR PANELS DO WE ACCEPT?
We accept all the common types of solar panels used across residential, commercial, and utility-scale installations in New Zealand. Whether you're upgrading your system, decommissioning a solar farm, or managing end-of-life panels from a project site, we've got you covered.
Monocrystalline Panels
Made from a single, continuous silicon crystal structure, monocrystalline panels are known for their high efficiency and sleek black appearance. They’re commonly used across residential and commercial installations.
Polycrystalline
(or Multicrystalline) Panels
These panels are a popular choice for certain large-scale installations and residential developments due to their affordability.
Thin-Film
Panels
Lightweight and flexible, thin-film panels are often used in specialised or portable applications, such as industrial rooftops, off-grid setups, and transport.
HOW IT WORKS:
Our End-to-End Solar Panel Recycling Process
Recycling solar panels is only the first step for Phoenix. We’ve created a full-circle solution to recover materials, reduce waste, and keep solar systems truly sustainable. Here’s how we do it:
1.
Collection &
Acceptance
Whether you’re a homeowner, installer, or solar farm operator, we’ve made it easy to recycle your panels. Bring your end-of-life panels to any of our yard locations across Aotearoa. For safety and processing reasons, frames must be attached to all panels for acceptance.
Got a large system or decommissioning a solar farm? We offer tailored collection and recovery solutions for bulk volumes.
2.
Safe Export & Global Processing
Once collected, panels are carefully prepared for export to approved international recycling facilities. Phoenix Recycling is the first and only company in New Zealand with an EPA-issued Hazardous Waste Export License for solar panels, meaning we’re fully licensed to handle types of solar panels.
These are sent offshore to certified recovery partners who follow strict environmental standards to safely dismantle and recover high-value materials.
3.
Material Recovery & Resource Circularity
Once processed, up to 98% of a panel’s components can be successfully recovered and reused. This includes:
Glass (which makes up ~75% of a panel)
Aluminium frames
Silicon from photovoltaic cells
Metals like silver, copper, and tin in connectors
Copper cabling
Galvanised steel mounts
Battery storage systems
At Phoenix, we’re not just recycling solar panels, we’re closing the loop on solar panel systems and giving valuable materials a second life.
Tackling a Growing Solar Waste Problem
Solar panels are built to last, but not forever. Most panels have a lifespan of 25–30 years. And that first big wave of global solar adoption? It’s starting to hit retirement age now. That means tens of thousands of panels in Aotearoa are approaching end-of-life, with nowhere to go but the skip.
It’s not because they can’t be recycled, it’s because there hasn’t been a system in place to recover and process them properly. And that’s a serious problem. Solar panels might be built for clean energy, but they’re made from materials that become hazardous if left to break down in the wrong place.
As solar adoption grows across New Zealand in homes, businesses, and solar farms, so does the waste stream. The good news? We’ve got time to get this right. With most panels still well within their operational lifespan, now’s the moment to build a better system.
Phoenix Recycling is stepping up to tackle the problem before it grows into a national issue. Our solar panel recycling service aims to recover valuable resources and prevent e-waste from ending up where it doesn’t belong.
circular
economy
Metals are at the heart of the global circular economy. Globally we need to reach net zero by transitioning to renewable sources of energy. Metals are core ingredients of all clean energy technologies; Phoenix’s metallic products for remelt will help power the future and build the essential infrastructure for our global society.