Was a net exporter.
Toxic sludge from solar panel manufacture china.
More disconcerting however is the environmental impact of these chemicals.
With recycling expensive.
They distribute their solar products and sell its solutions and services to a diversified international utility commercial and residential base in china.
Worse rainwater can wash many of these toxics out of the fragments of solar modules over time.
They also contain lead cadmium and other toxic even carcinogenic chemicals that cannot be removed without breaking apart the entire panel.
Fueled partly by billions in government incentives the industry is creating millions of solar panels each year and in the process millions of pounds of polluted sludge and contaminated water.
Environmental scientists and solar industry leaders are raising the red flag about used solar panels which contain toxic heavy metals and are considered hazardous waste.
For any user of solar panels this is not an immediate risk as it only affects manufacturers and recyclers.
The waste from manufacturing has raised concerns within the industry which fears that the problem if left unchecked could undermine solar s green image at a time when companies are facing stiff.
The resulting public outcry caused stock prices of manufacturers involved in these instances to drop and solar companies started to implement more stringent rules and regulations in regards to recycling and disposal to protect.
Unfortunately there have also been instances in the past of dumping hazardous into nature in various parts of the world such as china.
Responsible solar panel manufacturers will ensure that the chemicals used in the manufacturing process are handled properly.
Jinko solar is a solar panel manufacturer headquartered in shanghai.
The increase in solar hazardous waste is directly related to the industry s fast growth over the past five years even with solar business moving to china rapidly the u s.