Green Machine: Where Do Solar Cells Go When They Die?

From New Scientist - Online News:

What could be greener than row upon row of rooftops covered with gleaming solar panels? Yet as the first generation of photovoltaic panels approach the end of their useful life, the prospect of these devices ending up in landfill threatens to tarnish their eco-friendly credentials. Devices installed in the early 1990s will start reaching the end of their expected 25-year lifespan around 2015, as their ability to turn the sun's rays into electricity fades. Many solar cells use toxic metals such as cadmium - or rare metals like indium, which will soon start running out - so recycling will be crucial.

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