Not So Green Green Tech

(via Syd O) The LA Times discusses how solar panels contain a lot of pollutants. Now, as we try and move towards a "green technology revolution" is the best time to look into Cradle to Grave regulations and procedures for keeping new products from actually making things worse! Currently our environmental law is conditioned only to deal with the results of pollution - not to prevent it in the first place. That focus needs to be changed.

But scratch the surface of the manufacturing process and the green sheen disappears. Vast amounts of fossil fuels are used to produce and transport panels. Solar cells contain toxic materials. Some components can't be easily recycled.
That has some environmentalists worried about a new tidal wave of hazardous waste headed for the nation's landfills when panels eventually wear out. A report to be released today by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition warns that the industry and lawmakers need to set policies now to ensure that a clean technology doesn't leave a dirty legacy.