Comstock Inc. and its subsidiary, Comstock Metals LLC, a leader in the responsible recycling of end-of-life solar panels and the only certified, zero-landfill solar recycling solution in North America, today announced that following the opening of its facility in Kings County, CA, it has received approval from California鈥檚 Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and has been placed on a very select list of companies authorized as universal waste recyclers that can treat photovoltaic (PV) modules. The recently opened facility in combination with this new 鈥渃ertification鈥� now avails California companies with a true 鈥淐alifornia solution鈥� for recycling end of life PV solar panels that is authorized by the DTSC and supported by several strategic customers.
This new California facility, and recent certification, marks a regional expansion and optimization of Comstock Metals鈥� southwestern recycling network, reinforcing the company鈥檚 commitment to serving high-demand California-based renewable energy customers. Strategically located to optimize logistics and support customers across California鈥攖he single largest end-of-life U.S. solar panel market by far鈥攖he site will operate as a centralized hub for the collection, preparation, storage, and aggregation of decommissioned PV solar panels.
As increasing numbers of solar panels reach the end of their useful life across California, Arizona and Nevada, demand is rapidly growing for compliant, environmentally responsible recycling solutions. The California facility is purpose-built to meet this need, providing major utilities, developers, engineering and construction firms (EPCs), installers, decommissioning contractors, and asset owners with a dependable, locally based option for managing these environmental liabilities. Through advanced recovery processes, valuable materials鈥攊ncluding aluminum, silver, copper, gallium, and other metals鈥攃an eventually be extracted and returned to the supply chain for reuse.
鈥淥pening a facility in California positions us to better serve the region鈥檚 increasing demand for end-of-life solar panel disposal while delivering a streamlined, cost-effective logistics solution for our customers,鈥� said Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals. 鈥淥ur mission is to close the loop on solar energy by ensuring the environmental liabilities associated with these retired panels are safely, cleanly and completed eliminated so they do not find their way into landfills and ultimately, our natural water and broader eco-systems.鈥�
By delivering timely, efficient, and fully compliant decommissioning, transportation, and recycling services, Comstock鈥檚 zero-landfill solution minimizes waste, preserves natural resources, and advances the long-term sustainability of the solar industry. The Company is also completing permit applications and preparing submission plans for a second, integrated, industry-scale facility in Nevada, with final site selection expected later this month.
鈥淎s the number of end-of-life solar panels nationwide rises into the tens and eventually hundreds of millions, our ability to scale responsibly and efficiently ensures meaningful sustainability outcomes鈥攁nd confidence鈥攆or our customers and partners,鈥� said Corrado De Gasperis, Executive Chairman and CEO of Comstock. 鈥淥ur team is establishing a new benchmark for solar panel recycling through a growing, fully integrated national network.鈥�