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Alberta government touts Oct. 1 launch of $14 solar panel recycling fee, landfill ban
Starting Oct. 1, Alberta will require a $14 recycling fee on all new solar panels and implement a landfill ban, which Minister of Affordability and Utilities RJ Sigurdson says will fund North America's first specialized solar-panel recycling program.
Environment Minister Grant Hunter said the measure protects municipalities from future costs, as most solar panels installed today will reach end-of-life by 2045, potentially creating nearly 73,000 tons of material.
BRC-Canada director Jorden Dye criticized the fee as a "punitive tax" that is 139 per cent to 3,500 per cent higher than in other jurisdictions, creating a "disproportionate burden" on the sector.
Solar Alberta executive director Heather MacKenzie warned the fee acts like a 10 per cent tax, potentially causing job losses, while Calgary-based installer Tyler Marriott noted it adds roughly $1 million to project costs.
Despite government claims that the fee is "the right thing to do," Radha Rajagopalan, director of policy for Alberta, questioned the lack of an official cost breakdown and noted the charge ignores reuse pathways.