The company said the asset-light model will allow it to scale operations as policy and waste streams mature. Projections show that by 2035, Australia could generate over 90,000 tonnes of solar panel waste each year, but currently, they recycle only around 10% of decommissioned panels.
“This partnership with Won Kwang S&T…allows us to leverage our existing infrastructure, customer relationships, and operational competencies to address the rapidly growing problem of solar panel waste,” said Simon Linge, Managing Director and CEO of Livium, in the ASX announcement.
Won Kwang S&T operates one of South Korea’s leading PV recycling plants and has commercialized in-situ heating separation technology for end-of-life modules. CEO Sang Hun Lee said the collaboration provides a chance to optimize the company’s process before broader rollout in Australia.
Momentum for solar panel recycling is accelerating. In August 2025, Australia’s federal, state, and territory governments agreed to create a national reuse and recycling scheme that is expected to ban landfill disposal and require producer funding. Amendments to the Basel Convention that took effect in January 2025 also restrict the export of both hazardous and non-hazardous e-waste, adding pressure for domestic capacity.
Livium’s move diversifies its clean-energy waste business beyond batteries, where its subsidiary Envirostream is already a national leader. The company said it will use a fee-for-service model with Won Kwang S&T, with pricing based on fair market value and cost recovery.
