Australia has too much solar panel waste
Listen to the story (Kenyan accent)
A new study says we might have a big problem with solar panel waste soon.
Also, if we make a lot more solar panels, we might run out of silver in 20 years.
In Australia, recycling a solar panel costs $10 to $20. That’s expensive, so some people don’t do it. Also, we don’t have technology to get valuable metals like silver from recycled panels yet.
The study suggests a plan for the next 12 years. This includes new technology to get valuable metals from old panels. The plan also says to build more places to recycle old panels.
There’s another plan that will start in 2025. Companies that make solar panels will maybe have to recycle them, too.
Recently, the Australian government said it will give $1 billion to make more solar panels in Australia. Australian companies might make solar panels that are easier to recycle. Now, 90% of Australia’s solar panels come from China.
Some people say the government needs to make rules about recycling faster.
Vocabulary12 words
- Study
- the activity of examining/studying something in detail to discover new information; research; investigation
- Solar
- of or related to the sun; produced by or coming from the sun ?
- Solar panel
- a device that changes energy from the sun into electricity; ☀️⚡?
- Waste
- garbage; trash; unwanted materials or products that are thrown away
- Run out of
- to use up all of the supply; to have no more; exhaust; consume all of; to be out of
- Silver
- A shiny, gray metal that is valuable; ?
- Recycle
- to use again; to change trash into something useable; repurpose; ♻️
- Valuable
- worth a lot of money; very important;
- Metal
- a usually hard, shiny material such as iron, steel, gold, or silver
- Recently
- Not long ago
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Rule
- A guideline or regulation; sometimes a law; A guide that tells us what we should or shouldn’t do
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A new _____ says we might have a big problem with solar panel _____ soon.
Also, if we make a lot _____ solar panels, we might run out of silver in _____ years.
In Australia, recycling a _____ panel costs $10 to $20. That’s expensive, so _____ people don’t do it. Also, we don’t have technology to _____ valuable metals like silver from recycled panels _____.
The study suggests a plan for the _____ 12 years. This includes new technology to get valuable _____ from old panels. The plan also says to _____ more places to recycle old panels.
There’s another plan that will start in _____. Companies that make solar panels will maybe have to recycle _____, too.
Recently, the Australian government said it _____ give $1 billion to make more solar panels in Australia. Australian _____ might make solar panels that are easier to recycle. Now, _____% of Australia’s solar panels come from China.
_____ people say the government needs to make rules about recycling _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think recycling solar panels is important?
- Why do you think most of Australia’s solar panels are imported from China?
- Who should recycle old solar panels (customers, manufacturers, or the government)?
- In your opinion, is it dangerous to keep making more and more solar panels? Why or why not?
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