Comstock Metals Awarded the First R2v3/RIOS Certifications For Zero-Waste Solar Panel Recycling in North America
Comstock Metals, a subsidiary of Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE), has achieved a significant milestone by becoming North America's first solar panel recycling company to receive R2v3/RIOS Responsible Recycling Standard certification. The certification, specifically Appendix G, validates their zero-waste recycling process that transforms all panel components into new commercial applications.
The company's proprietary thermal methods successfully process panels, converting 100% of materials including glass, aluminum, and fines into commodity-ready products. Operating since January 2024, their facility has demonstrated consistent performance in environmental stewardship and safety standards. The certification from SERI, an accredited third-party auditor, validates their entire operation and downstream vendor compliance.
This achievement positions Comstock Metals for expansion in the domestic critical mineral and renewable energy value chain, offering a complete zero-landfill solution that eliminates environmental liabilities.
Comstock Metals, una controllata di Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE), ha raggiunto un traguardo importante diventando la prima azienda nordamericana nel settore del riciclo di pannelli solari a ottenere la certificazione R2v3/RIOS Responsible Recycling Standard. Questa certificazione, in particolare l'Appendice G, conferma il loro processo di riciclo a rifiuti zero che trasforma tutti i componenti dei pannelli in nuove applicazioni commerciali.
I metodi termici proprietari dell'azienda riescono a trattare i pannelli, convertendo il 100% dei materiali, inclusi vetro, alluminio e polveri, in prodotti pronti per il mercato. Operativa da gennaio 2024, la loro struttura ha dimostrato prestazioni costanti in termini di tutela ambientale e sicurezza. La certificazione rilasciata da SERI, un ente terzo accreditato, convalida l'intera operazione e la conformità dei fornitori a valle.
Questo risultato posiziona Comstock Metals per un'espansione nella filiera nazionale dei minerali critici e delle energie rinnovabili, offrendo una soluzione completa a rifiuti zero che elimina le responsabilità ambientali.
Comstock Metals, una filial de Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE), ha alcanzado un hito significativo al convertirse en la primera empresa en Norteamérica dedicada al reciclaje de paneles solares en obtener la certificación R2v3/RIOS Responsible Recycling Standard. La certificación, específicamente el Apéndice G, valida su proceso de reciclaje sin residuos que transforma todos los componentes de los paneles en nuevas aplicaciones comerciales.
Los métodos térmicos patentados de la empresa procesan con éxito los paneles, convirtiendo el 100% de los materiales, incluyendo vidrio, aluminio y finos, en productos listos para el mercado. En funcionamiento desde enero de 2024, su planta ha demostrado un rendimiento constante en gestión ambiental y normas de seguridad. La certificación otorgada por SERI, un auditor externo acreditado, valida toda su operación y el cumplimiento de los proveedores posteriores.
Este logro posiciona a Comstock Metals para expandirse en la cadena de valor nacional de minerales críticos y energías renovables, ofreciendo una solución completa sin vertederos que elimina responsabilidades ambientales.
Comstock Metals는 Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE)의 자회사로서, 북미에서 최초로 R2v3/RIOS 책임 재활용 표준 인증을 획득한 태양광 패널 재활용 회사가 되는 중요한 이정표를 달성했습니다. 특히 부록 G는 모든 패널 구성 요소를 새로운 상업적 용도로 전환하는 제로 폐기물 재활용 프로세스를 검증합니다.
회사의 독자적인 열처리 방식은 패널을 성공적으로 처리하여 유리, 알루미늄, 미세 입자 등 모든 재료를 100% 상품화 가능한 제품으로 전환합니다. 2024년 1월부터 운영 중인 시설은 환경 보호 및 안전 기준에서 지속적인 성과를 보여왔습니다. 공인된 제3자 감사 기관인 SERI의 인증은 전체 운영과 하위 공급업체의 준수를 검증합니다.
이 성과는 Comstock Metals가 국내 중요 광물 및 재생 에너지 가치 사슬에서 확장할 수 있는 기반을 마련하며, 환경 부담을 제거하는 완전한 제로 매립 솔루션을 제공합니다.
Comstock Metals, filiale de Comstock Inc. (NYSE : LODE), a franchi une étape importante en devenant la première entreprise nord-américaine de recyclage de panneaux solaires à obtenir la certification R2v3/RIOS Responsible Recycling Standard. La certification, notamment l'annexe G, valide leur processus de recyclage zéro déchet qui transforme tous les composants des panneaux en nouvelles applications commerciales.
Les méthodes thermiques exclusives de l'entreprise traitent avec succès les panneaux, convertissant 100 % des matériaux, y compris le verre, l'aluminium et les fines particules, en produits prêts pour le marché. En activité depuis janvier 2024, leur installation a démontré des performances constantes en matière de gestion environnementale et de sécurité. La certification délivrée par SERI, un auditeur tiers accrédité, valide l'ensemble de leurs opérations ainsi que la conformité des fournisseurs en aval.
Cette réussite positionne Comstock Metals pour une expansion dans la chaîne de valeur nationale des minéraux critiques et des énergies renouvelables, offrant une solution complète sans mise en décharge qui élimine les responsabilités environnementales.
Comstock Metals, eine Tochtergesellschaft von Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE), hat einen bedeutenden Meilenstein erreicht, indem sie Nordamerikas erstes Solarzellen-Recyclingunternehmen wurde, das die R2v3/RIOS Responsible Recycling Standard-Zertifizierung erhalten hat. Die Zertifizierung, insbesondere Anhang G, bestätigt ihren null-Abfall-Recyclingprozess, der alle Komponenten der Solarmodule in neue kommerzielle Anwendungen umwandelt.
Die firmeneigenen thermischen Verfahren verarbeiten die Module erfolgreich und wandeln 100 % der Materialien, einschließlich Glas, Aluminium und Feinanteile, in marktfähige Produkte um. Die seit Januar 2024 betriebene Anlage hat durchgehend gute Leistungen in Umweltmanagement und Sicherheitsstandards gezeigt. Die Zertifizierung durch SERI, einen akkreditierten Dritten, bestätigt den gesamten Betrieb und die Einhaltung der Anforderungen durch nachgelagerte Lieferanten.
Dieser Erfolg positioniert Comstock Metals für eine Expansion in der heimischen Wertschöpfungskette für kritische Mineralien und erneuerbare Energien und bietet eine vollständige Deponiefrei-Lösung, die Umweltverbindlichkeiten eliminiert.
- First company in North America to receive R2v3/RIOS certification for solar panel recycling
- Achieves 100% recycling rate with zero waste to landfill
- Proprietary thermal recycling technology successfully operational for over a year
- Complete certification of entire supply chain and downstream vendors
- Positioned for rapid scaling and growth in critical minerals sector
- None.
Insights
First certified zero-waste solar panel recycler in North America positions Comstock to address growing end-of-life panel challenges with validated process.
The R2v3/RIOS certification with Appendix G represents a significant industry milestone. As the first North American solar panel recycler to achieve this standard, Comstock Metals gains meaningful differentiation in an emerging market facing critical waste management challenges.
What makes this certification particularly valuable is its comprehensive scope. It validates Comstock's ability to process 100% of panel components through their proprietary thermal method, with no materials sent to landfill. The certification required rigorous third-party auditing not just of Comstock's facility but of their entire downstream supply chain, ensuring environmental compliance throughout the material journey.
This creates a fully documented chain-of-custody, addressing a critical pain point for solar developers and panel manufacturers seeking to eliminate environmental liability. As panels from the first major solar boom reach end-of-life, the industry faces mounting regulatory pressure and public scrutiny regarding disposal practices.
The certification's timing is strategic, coinciding with the emerging implementation of extended producer responsibility frameworks for solar panels across various jurisdictions. Most panels currently end up in landfills despite containing recoverable materials and potential contaminants.
Comstock's certified thermal processing method appears to overcome technical barriers that have limited complete recycling in this sector. The facility's year of operational history demonstrates this isn't merely a theoretical solution but a commercially functioning process with documented results.
Certification creates competitive advantage in growing solar recycling market, though financial impact remains unquantified.
This certification establishes a valuable competitive moat for Comstock in the solar panel recycling sector. The first-mover advantage of being North America's only R2v3/RIOS Appendix G certified recycler provides significant market differentiation in an industry where verified environmental claims carry premium value.
The one-year operational history indicates successful transition from development to commercial operations, an important de-risking milestone. However, the release notably lacks specific metrics on processing capacity, volumes handled, or financial performance, making it difficult to quantify current scale or revenue impact.
Comstock's business model appears strategically focused on capturing premium value by eliminating customer liability rather than competing purely on recycling costs. This approach targets customers with regulatory compliance concerns and reputational considerations – potentially supporting stronger margins than commodity-focused recyclers.
The proprietary thermal recycling process, now independently validated, may provide processing efficiencies and cost advantages as operations scale. Complete material recovery creates multiple potential revenue streams from the various components recovered, reducing exposure to volatility in any single commodity market.
While the release signals readiness for "aggressive expansion" and "rapid scaling," it provides no specifics on growth trajectory, capacity addition plans, or capital requirements to achieve these objectives. The certification removes one barrier to growth by validating technical capabilities, but actual market penetration will depend on numerous additional factors including cost structure, logistics network, and customer acquisition strategy.
VIRGINIA CITY, Nev., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comstock Inc. (NYSE American: LODE) announced today that its subsidiary, Comstock Metals LLC (“Comstock Metals”), a pioneer in sustainable, zero-landfill solar panel recycling is the first solar panel recycling company in North America to be certified to the R2v3/RIOS Responsible Recycling Standard, and specifically to Appendix G that authenticates a zero-waste recycling process that safely repurposes each recycled material into new commercial applications. Comstock Metals has demonstrated panel processing with proprietary thermal methods, producing
SERI is an accredited third-party auditor certifying recycling facilities and their downstream vendors for responsible recycling of electronic products. The R2v3 Responsible Recycling Standard and Appendix G certifies Comstock Metals’ primary recycling facility and photovoltaic (PV) module recycling processes, validating our entire operation is conducted with the highest level of safety and environmental stewardship. As part of the certification process, Comstock Metals was audited through each of its downstream vendors to ensure strict compliance to the same safety, environmental, and recycling standards the R2 certification requires for accreditation. The Comstock Metals’ facility has now operated for over one year.
“The SERI certification is an outstanding achievement for the entire system and by our extended team, including suppliers and customers. Everyone worked relentlessly since our initial commissioning in January of 2024 to ensure that the entire supply chain can rest assured that our promise of no waste, no landfills, and the elimination of liability from contaminants downstream of material recycling and recovery has been truly solved,” stated Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals. “Our proprietary clean and efficient thermal recycling process coupled with our diligent quality control of every aspect of our processing services delivers repeatedly predictable and effective results. Our upstream and downstream customers depend on this reliability and frankly, certainty in the responsible elimination of liability.”
Comstock Metals has now received independent certification that at each step in the panel procurement and recycling process, including transportation, handling, receiving, storage, processing, and downstream recycled materials reuse, Comstock Metals met or exceeded the environmental and safety standards requisite for consistent performance, reliability and predictability of our demonstrated operational and recycling expertise. This certification comes as Comstock Metals aggressively pursues expansion of their industry leading recycling services, that best ensures all stakeholders in this domestic, critical mineral and renewable energy value chain, will uphold their commitment to environmental stewardship.
“Our systems were innovatively designed by Fortunato and the team for this very purpose; efficient, clean, fast, and effective elimination of environmental liabilities and reuse of all of the generated materials. Not 50 percent, or 80 percent or even up to 95 percent. Quality for us is defined as reliable, predictable, certifiable
About SERI
SERI is a global non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in the United States with a mission to champion and drive the sustainable use, reuse, and recycling of electronics globally. SERI has numerous programs working to protect the planet and enrich lives by championing sustainable actions throughout the entire electronics lifecycle, including the R2 Standard for responsible electronics reuse and recycling, the eSummit, the SERI Champions Program, and IEMN, among others. Learn more at https://sustainableelectronics.org/.
About Comstock Metals
Comstock Metals is a leading, Nevada-based, zero-landfill recycling solution that specializes in the environmentally responsible recycling of solar panels and related renewable energy infrastructure and equipment. Comstock’s unique thermal delaminating processes, ongoing material innovations, and sustainable practices differentiates its recycling leadership and strengthens the supply chain of domestically manufactured electrification products. www.comstockmetals.com
About Comstock Inc.
Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) innovates and commercializes technologies that are deployable across entire industries to contribute to energy abundance by efficiently extracting and converting under-utilized natural resources, such as waste and other forms of woody biomass into renewable fuels, and end-of-life electronics into recovered electrification metals. To learn more, please visit www.comstock.inc.
Comstock Social Media Policy
Comstock Inc. has used, and intends to continue using, its investor relations link and main website at www.comstock.inc in addition to its X.com, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts, as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
Contacts
For investor inquiries:
William McCarthy, Chief Operating Officer
Tel (775) 413-6222
ir@comstockinc.com
For media inquiries:
Tracy Saville, Director of Marketing
Tel (775) 847-7573
media@comstockinc.com
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FAQ
What certifications did Comstock Metals (LODE) receive for solar panel recycling?
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