End-Of-Life Solar Panels: Navigating the First Wave (August 21, 2025)
As the first major wave of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in the U.S. reaches the end of its 25-year lifecycle, a new and pressing challenge is emerging: what happens to all the retired panels? Coupled with recent trade tariffs and increasing domestic manufacturing, the U.S. solar sector faces a critical inflection point. Without effective recycling infrastructure, mounting PV waste could undermine the industry's environmental credibility and create costly liabilities.
This essential conversation explored:
- The scale and timing of the coming PV waste wave
- Policy gaps and opportunities at the federal and state levels
- Emerging recycling technologies and material recovery options
- Market and economic drivers shaping end-of-life (EOL) solutions
- What manufacturers, developers, and policymakers must do now to build a circular solar economy
This webinar brought together industry experts to unpack the implications of this issue and outline a path forward to ensure that solar power remains not just clean — but truly sustainable.
The recording will be uploaded shortly!
Meet our Speakers:
Robin Ingenthron, CEO, Good Point Recycling
Robin Ingenthron is CEO of Good Point Recycling of Middlebury, VT, and Brockton, MA. In the 1990s, Robin was Director of the Recycling Program at the Massachusetts DEP. He has a BA degree in International Relations (Carleton College, 1984) and an MBA from Boston University. Robin Ingenthron is a former Peace Corps volunteer and employee (Cameroon, Africa 1984-86) and is founder of Fair Trade Recycling, an export reform group (WR3A.org). A writer and public speaker, he was called “The Best Scrap Blogger in the World” by Bloomberg columnist and recycling author Adam Minter, and named one of 100 Top Recyclers worldwide by Recycling International in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
American Retroworks Inc. has its own division, Good Point Recycling, which is actively collecting, evaluating, trading and arranging for EOL processing under three statewide contracts. They are headquartered in Middlebury, Vermont, with facilities in Brockton and Springfield Massachusetts.
John Carhart, Senior Consultant, Eunomia Research & Consulting
John Carhart is the Lead Modeler at Eunomia based in New York and was responsible for leading the quantitative analysis and modeling that underpinned the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) solar PV reuse and recycling needs assessment. John designed and executed the cost modeling, material flow projections, and policy scenario analysis used to evaluate the environmental and economic outcomes of multiple future pathways for managing end-of-life solar infrastructure in Minnesota.
He brings deep experience in modeling the impacts of extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs and deposit return systems (DRS) across North America and Europe — including work for California, Vermont, Quebec, France, and the Northeastern U.S. In addition to his work on the MPCA study, John also supported recent needs assessments and market analyses for Colorado and Washington, where he led modeling efforts that integrated collection and processing capacity, GHG impact assessment, and stakeholder-driven infrastructure scenarios. John holds a B.A. in Economics and Environmental Policy from Colby College and is known for his ability to combine data-rich modeling with stakeholder insights to guide pragmatic policy decisions.
Glenn Laga, President and Co-Founder, Commercial Solar Panel Recycling
Glenn Laga is a visionary entrepreneur and industry leader with a proven track record of creating and scaling service-based businesses into market pioneers. As the President and Co-Founder of Commercial Solar Panel Recycling (CSPR), Glenn is driving innovation by addressing the critical issue of solar panel waste. Based in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, CSPR offers nationwide solutions that prioritize reuse, repurposing, and recycling to divert solar panels from landfills, transforming a nationwide, growing environmental challenge into sustainable opportunities.
Before founding CSPR, Glenn served as the CEO and Founder of Guardian Data Destruction, where he revolutionized onsite e-data destruction. Under his leadership, Guardian evolved from a local mobile lab to the nation's largest provider of onsite, end-of-life data destruction, logistics, and data center services. The company's success culminated in its acquisition by an investment group, where Glenn remains an investor and advocate.
Known for his ability to build strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and innovative teams, Glenn brings unparalleled expertise to PV recycling. His focus at CSPR is establishing strong partnerships and developing a single source, cost-effective circular economy process for EOL solar panels and accessories for installers, utilities, municipalities, and manufacturers.
As a member of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and SWANA, Glenn is committed to aligning business practices with sustainability solutions, ensuring the industry's growth does not come at the cost of environmental responsibility and lack of transparency.
