The world is seeing a huge push for solar power. But what happens when those panels die?

Most solar has been installed in the last decade, and that pace is expected to continue, as it becomes cheaper due to federal incentives, new technology and higher demand. Many of those panels are meant to last for at least 25 – 30 years, and could produce power for much longer. Eventually, that will pile up and we’ll need to dispose of them.

So why isn’t everyone recycling? Well, it’s still expensive. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that it can cost between $15 – $45 to recycle a panel, but just a few dollars to throw it away.