![A photograph of Mexico's Villanueva solar plant, the largest solar farm in the Americas](https://sustainability.yale.edu/sites/default/files/styles/blog_and_explainers/public/foto-hd-messico-villanueva-solare-3.png?itok=0WH9AQfU)
March 6, 2023
Solar panels have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, but they contain valuable metals, including silver and copper. With a surge of expired panels expected soon, companies are emerging that seek to recycle the reusable materials and keep the panels out of landfills.