{
  "id": 3372207,
  "title": "Mexico’s first solar panel recycling plant coming to Jalisco",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/mexicos-first-solar-panel-recycling-plant-coming-to-jalisco",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T22:58:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mexico News Daily",
    "slug": "mexico-news-daily",
    "url": "https://mexiconewsdaily.com/business/mexico-solar-panel-recycling-plant/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jalisco, a western state in Mexico, will soon host the country's inaugural solar panel recycling plant, capable of recovering up to 95% of materials from decommissioned equipment. This project emerged due to the rapid expansion of photovoltaic generation in the state, which currently features around 1.6 million solar panels - equivalent to 50,000 tonnes of equipment. Rafiqui, a non-profit organization focused on recycling and repurposing, is constructing the facility in Ciudad Guzmán, located approximately 125 kilometers south of Guadalajara, the state capital. In its initial stage, the recycling plant will handle up to 1,000 tonnes of retired solar panels per year, recovering valuable materials such as silicon, aluminum, and silver for reuse in other industries. Rafiqui director Ximena Cantú emphasized that their approach transcends conventional recycling by embracing the principles of a circular economy. Prior to sending any materials to the recycling plant, the decommissioned equipment undergoes evaluation to determine if it can still be used or donated to communities and non-profits. Manuel Gómez-Herrera Lasso, the executive director of the Mexican Photovoltaic Industry Association, hailed Jalisco as a trailblazer in solar energy adoption. The first photovoltaic system connected to the national grid was installed in the state in 2007. However, the rapid growth of solar technology also poses challenges in managing waste generated by retired equipment. The International Renewable Energy Agency forecasts that 30,000 tonnes of solar panels in Mexico will be decommissioned due to premature failure by 2030, while 6,500 tonnes will reach the end of their lifecycle naturally. To address this issue, Rafiqui has established a collection center in a southern Guadalajara neighborhood for small quantities and is developing a collection scheme for larger amounts across various regions of the country. Furthermore, Rafiqui is engaging in discussions with municipalities and industrial associations to expand alternative collection methods for solar panels in Jalisco.",
  "summary": "The project evolved in response to the growth of photovoltaic generation in Jalisco, which has approximately 1.6 million installed solar panels, equivalent to about 50,000 tonnes of equipment. The post Mexico’s first solar panel recycling plant coming to Jalisco appeared first on Mexico News Daily",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}