Nothing is as environmentally friendly as solar energy, right? Well what happens when a panel no longer works and hits the landfill? That’s the question being asked by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC).

This morning the SVTC released a report that looks to the solar industry, of all places, to adopt more environmentally conscious measures. The measures in question revolve around the making and disposing of solar panels.

This has never really been addressed before because of the relative newness of the solar power industry. With the lifespan of the average solar panel being around 20 years that leaves another 10 to 15 before the majority of panels start hitting the landfill. So the SVTC is calling on the solar industry to start looking for recycling methods now so they are prepared for the first wave of decommissioned solar panels.

The SVCT also wants to see the solar power industry investing in research that will reduce the harmful materials in solar panels. They point to the use of hazardous chemicals like selenium and cadmium which have been linked to health problems when people are exposed to them for an extended time. The SVTC also says that some of the materials in commercial solar panels haven’t received sufficient safety tests.

“Look at the electronics industry and do the opposite. It’s only in the last few years that they saw the writing on the wall. People have become far more conscious about recycling, so [electronics makers] are getting on that band wagon.” Sheila Davis, executive director of SVTC, said in a statement.

She also pointed out that if the federal government doesn’t regulate the use of materials in solar panel construction that the solar industry would follow in the footsteps of the electronics industry which was way too late to the promotion of recycling.