Giving solar panels a second life
House of Representatives
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water will hold a public hearing in Sydney on Thursday, 24 September 2026 as part of its inquiry into solar panel reuse and recycling.
The Committee will hear from researchers, industry representatives, peak associations, recyclers and the NSW Government about the challenges and opportunities to expand solar panel reuse and recycling.
Committee Chair, Ms Anne Urquhart MP, said “the Committee is interested to hear from a range of industry experts on potential solutions and policy options to help overcome the barriers to establishing an effective solar panel reuse and recycling industry in Australia”.
“We are interested in understanding how measures like product stewardship, extended producer responsibility, investment in appropriate infrastructure and whole-of-life data and traceability systems for replaced and decommissioned solar panels could support the growth of the industry,” Ms Urquhart said.
The inquiry was referred to the Committee on 19 January 2026 by the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator the Hon Murray Watt.
Public hearing Details:
Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Time: 9:00am to 4:30pm AEST (Sydney city)
Location: Meeting Room 1, Level 21, 1 Bligh Street, Sydney, NSW
The hearing will be audio-visual broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
The Committee will hear evidence from:
- UNSW Academics (photovoltaic and materials)
- PV Industries
- Smart Energy Council
- Veolia Australia and New Zealand
- Australian Council of Recycling
- Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia
- Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia
- NSW Government
- Standards Australia
Further information, including the terms of reference, can be found on the Committee’s website.
Media inquiries
Ms Anne Urquhart MP, Chair
Bronwyn Taylor
0429 706 608
For background information
Committee Secretariat
(02) 6277 4580
[email protected]
For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to the inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.
