Can Solar Lights be Recycled?

For some of us Solar Lights are still a novelty.  Despite some pessimistic solar lights reviews from a few users, solar lights are gaining more and more popularity as a free energy source and as an alternative for places where conventional energy sources are not easily accessible.

solar patio lights

One of the most common concerns of frustrated users is the durability of “Chinese” quality lights.  Others are not so thrilled about the longevity of the provided rechargeable batteries. The rechargeable batteries in solar lights usually last 2 years.  Replacing them is not a big hassle, but does require a small investment for the future.  Can solar lights be recycled before all the glitches and complaints get fixed by the current manufacturers?  The answer is – yes!

Most solar lights on the market are manufactured like most goods in the US – in China.  The lack of quality control and minimal interest in alternative energy sources from large retailers leave small on-line stores to struggle by themselves designing and inventing what they can to deliver free power to users.

What are solar lights made out of?  And how can these solar light parts be recycled?  There are several different solar light types out there: solar wall-mounted lights, solar post lights, solar pathway lights, solar string lights, solar motion detecting lights, solar interior shed lights, solar camping lanterns and many more. The most popular lately are seasonal solar lights.

Soji Solar Lanterns

In a nutshell, all basic solar lights are comprised of:

1.) A small silicon solar collector (cells), sometimes built-in into the light itself or into a separate box which can be located independently via wire from the light itself under the sun.

2.) Rechargeable batteries, usually Ni-Cd AA batteries.

3.) An LED light bulb (roughly 2.5V-3V no load) – the most energy efficient light “bulb” available on the market at this point. LED lights for most lights sold in the US are usually made in the US because of the complexity of the production.

4.) A controller board.

5.) Photoresistor which detects the amount of light available and turns the solar light on when it gets dark.

6.) The cover of the light itself which can be made out of glass or plastic.  Most solar lights covers are made out of plastic because of fragility of the glass during the long shipments from China.

All the described above parts of solar lights can be recycled and reused for any other future production or for remaking the next generation of solar lights.  Some recycling facilities can accept computers, TVs and radio electronics.  Solar Lights Recycling Facilities came to life within the past year.  Some Solar Lights Recycling companies offer coupons for your next solar light purchase to refund you for mailing your old solar light to their facilities.  The process of recycling solar lights is similar to one that is currently in place to recycle other electronic devices.  If it is determined that it is not practical to rebuild a light, the unit will be harvested for reusable parts.  The solar light units are usually disassembled manually to minimize damage to usable components and to allow for a cleaner material on downstream processing.

The life span of an average solar light will largely depend on the quality of the light’s cover and its ability to withstand weather conditions in your area.  Look for corrosion and water resistant qualities in a product.  They can be purchased on-line so as to avoid retail store’s higher costs.  If something goes wrong, don’t throw it away!  Recycle your solar light! Send it in to one of the Solar Lights Recycling Facilities and get a rebate!  Let’s help both the growing solar light industry and the environment. And lastly – enjoy your free energy if you decide to make your next light a solar light!

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