Clean Earth Expands Solar Panel Recycling Capacity in Texas with New Permit

U.S. environmental services provider Clean Earth has launched solar panel recycling operations at its Lancaster, Texas facility after receiving authorization from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to process end-of-life photovoltaic modules.

The permit allows the site to handle up to 600,000 solar panels annually, adding to its existing electronic waste recycling operations. Clean Earth said the expansion positions the Lancaster facility as a single-source site for managing both e-waste and solar panel waste streams.

The Texas facility has served as a regional hub for electronics recycling, and the new authorization extends its role to include renewable energy infrastructure. The company, a division of Enviri Corporation, is targeting growth in solar waste management as installations across the United States continue to increase.

The addition of solar panel recycling reflects rising demand for end-of-life solutions as early-generation solar assets begin to reach decommissioning stages. By integrating services at one location, Clean Earth aims to streamline logistics and compliance for project developers and operators.

Jeff Beswick, president of Clean Earth, said the move responds to customer demand for consolidated waste management services. He noted that Texas, one of the fastest-growing solar markets in the country, requires infrastructure capable of handling both construction waste and long-term decommissioning needs.

At full capacity, the Lancaster facility will process roughly 20 million pounds of material per year, including damaged panels, installation scrap and retired systems. The company said it applies material assessment and regulatory screening to determine appropriate recycling or reuse pathways for each component.

The expansion also aligns with evolving state-level requirements. Recent legislation in Texas requires new solar facilities to address recycling and disposal of system components, increasing the need for compliant processing capacity within the state.

Clean Earth said the facility is equipped to support solar developers with decommissioning, regulatory compliance and supply chain management as the renewable energy sector matures.

Source: Clean Earth

SUNSHINE Spotlight: Solar waste is emerging as a new recycling stream, with operators building capacity to manage end-of-life panels alongside existing e-waste infrastructure.