Global PV waste surge demands regionally tailored recycling, equitable policies, and transnational governance
Original framing: “Towards an equitable future of global photovoltaic waste recycling” — Nature
Life‑cycle assessment (LCA) studies show that recycling silicon PV modules can recover up to 95 % of glass and 70 % of silver, cutting embodied carbon by 60 %. However, current data gaps on thin‑film and perovskite modules limit accurate forecasting, underscoring the need for standardized metrics and open‑access databases. Robust scientific baselines are essential for policy incentives and for evaluating trade‑offs between recycling and second‑life repurposing.
The impending PV waste surge is not merely a technical challenge but a manifestation of historic extractive logics, inequitable trade, and insufficient governance.
By foregrounding Indigenous stewardship, integrating cross‑cultural EPR models, and deploying robust scientific and future‑modelling tools, we can redesign the solar value chain toward true circularity. Empowering marginalized recyclers through community‑owned hubs and embedding design‑for‑circularity standards will redistribute economic benefits and health safeguards. A globally coordinated EPR treaty, underpinned by transparent waste‑flow platforms, can align corporate responsibility with planetary justice, turning the trickster paradox of 'clean energy' into a sustainable reality.