The Solar Panel Waste Crisis, Circular Economy & Redesigning the Future - with Alex Nunez S2E28

What actually happens to a solar panel when it dies, and how can we stop millions of tons of them from ending up in landfill?In this episode, we sit down with Alex Nunez, an industrial designer and circular economy researcher at RMIT. From growing up in the chaotic, high-altitude sprawl of Mexico City to researching the social drivers behind sustainable waste management in Australia, Alex brings a deeply human and design-focused perspective to the renewable energy sector.We dive deep into the mounting crisis of solar panel waste and why financial incentives alone aren't enough to make installers and wholesalers recycle properly. Alex breaks down the ""10 Rs"" of the circular economy, why recycling is actually the last resort, and how concepts like a ""Digital Passport"" for solar panels could revolutionize supply chain transparency by telling recyclers exactly what elements (silver, copper, silicon, low-grade EVA) they are dealing with.We also explore the incredible structural potential of cardboard, how material design dictates human behaviour (like the fatal flaw of multi-material toothbrushes), and why solving our waste problem requires us to reconnect with our food, our communities, and traditional knowledge.⚡ What we cover:✅ Growing up in Mexico City:✅ How Latin culture centres around food, connection, and traditional waste reduction✅ Why merging art and science drew Alex to industrial design✅ The fatal design flaw of everyday items that makes them impossible to recycle✅ The structural miracles of cardboard: Building weight-bearing arches without glue✅ Why recycling is actually the last step in the circular economy (Exploring the 10 Rs)✅ The incoming 2045 solar panel waste crisis and logistical nightmares ✅ Why trust is the biggest barrier to solar recycling✅ The ""Digital Passport"" solution: the exact material breakdown of every solar panel✅ The massive, hidden problem of single-use plastic packaging in commercial solar i✅ Why treating end-of-life solar panels as ""rubbish"" guarantees they will be destroyed instead of reused