Comstock Metals Secures Nevada Air Permit for Large-Scale Solar Panel Recycling Plant

Comstock Metals has received final state air quality approval to operate what it says will be the first industrial-scale U.S. facility dedicated to recycling end-of-life solar panels, clearing a key regulatory hurdle as solar waste volumes begin to rise, according to company disclosures and Nevada regulatory filings.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Air Pollution Control granted the permit for the company’s Silver Springs facility, positioning the project to move into installation and commissioning as early as the first quarter of 2026, company reporting shows. The approval matters because air permits are typically among the most complex environmental authorizations for metals recovery operations and often determine whether projects advance on schedule.

The permit follows a separate determination from Nevada’s Bureau of Sustainable Materials Management that the project qualifies for a written materials management approval, which remains in its public notice phase. Once finalized, the two permits together would complete the state-level approvals required to begin operations, data published by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection indicate.

Solar panel recycling has emerged as a growing regulatory and commercial issue as early U.S. utility-scale solar projects approach retirement. Industry estimates cited by analysts show millions of panels are expected to be decommissioned annually by the late 2020s, with much of the earliest deployment concentrated in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Observers note that limited domestic recycling capacity has historically pushed panels toward landfills or overseas processing, raising environmental and liability concerns.

Comstock says the Silver Springs plant is designed to process more than three million panels per year through a single continuous line, handling up to 100,000 tons of material annually. The facility is intended to recover metal concentrates from photovoltaic modules while eliminating landfill disposal, according to company statements. Equipment fabrication and deliveries began in late 2025, with remaining systems scheduled to arrive in January, company updates show.

Executives said the air permit marks a milestone for solar recycling in Nevada. Comstock Metals President Fortunato Villamagna said the approval demonstrates regulatory confidence in the company’s zero-landfill approach and reflects collaboration with state authorities to address potential heavy-metal risks from discarded panels.

Industry groups argue that permitting clarity is essential as solar waste accelerates faster than recycling infrastructure. Analysts say facilities capable of operating at scale could help stabilize recycling costs and reduce compliance risk for utilities and project owners facing decommissioning obligations. Demand for recovered metals has also strengthened amid tighter global supply chains for critical materials, adding an economic incentive to recycling investments.

Comstock’s management says Nevada provides a strategic base for reaching more than half of the U.S. market for end-of-life panels, given the concentration of legacy solar assets in the Southwest. The company has signaled that the Silver Springs site is intended as a template for additional facilities nationwide, contingent on market conditions and regulatory alignment.

Source: Comstock

SUNSHINE Spotlight: Nevada’s air permit approval moves Comstock Metals closer to launching a large-scale solar panel recycling facility as U.S. solar assets enter a new phase of decommissioning.