Comstock Metals Receives Expanded County Storage Permit for Recycling Ramp Up
- Received unanimous approval for expanded storage permit, enabling larger-scale operations
- Secured master service agreements with major utilities for recycling services
- First North American company certified by SERI for R2v3/RIOS Responsible Recycling Standard
- Facility will have 100,000 tons per year processing capacity
- Demonstrates 100% recycling capability with zero waste to landfill
- Strategic location to serve Western U.S. market
- Facility not yet operational - commissioning delayed until Q1 2026
- Significant capital expenditure required for equipment purchases starting summer 2025
Insights
Comstock's expanded storage permit advances their solar recycling facility plans, positioning them to capture growing market demand with certified zero-waste technology.
Comstock's unanimous approval for expanded solar panel storage in Nevada marks a significant operational milestone for their recycling business. The permit addresses a critical bottleneck in their logistics chain, enabling them to accommodate what they describe as robust demand from major utilities who have already signed master service agreements.
The timing is strategic as the company prepares to launch their first industrial-scale facility in Silver Springs, with equipment ordering planned for summer and commissioning targeted for Q1 2026. The facility's 100,000 tons per year processing capacity represents substantial scale in the nascent solar recycling industry.
What differentiates Comstock in this growing market is their SERI certification to the R2v3/RIOS Responsible Recycling Standard, specifically Appendix G that validates their zero-waste process. Their proprietary thermal methods reportedly achieve complete material recovery - producing commodity-ready products from all panel components including glass, aluminum, and fines.
This development addresses a critical infrastructure gap in the western US solar industry, where end-of-life panel disposal presents a mounting challenge. As utilities and solar companies face increasing regulatory pressure and sustainability commitments around waste management, Comstock's closed-loop solution positions them favorably in a market with significant growth potential and limited current competition.
Accelerates the Development of the first Industry-Scale Solar Panel Recycling Facility
VIRGINIA CITY, Nev., June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”) announced today that its subsidiary, Comstock Metals, received unanimous approval for a conditional use permit (“CUP”) from the Lyon County, Nevada, Board of County Commissioners, for expanded material storage of solar panels on leased property in the immediate vicinity of the company's first planned industrial-scale facility in Silver Springs, Nevada. This permit enables expanded storage for major utility and solar industry customers struggling with end-of-life solutions and provides sufficient buffer for the logistics associated with the first industry-scale solar panel recycling facility in the region.
Comstock Metals is dedicated to advancing leading technologies and sustainable practices in the solar recycling industry. The new storage capacity enables the company to efficiently manage and process large quantities of end-of-life solar panels and delivers a
Corrado De Gasperis, Executive Chairman and CEO of Comstock Inc., stated, "Once we demonstrated our ability to recycle and reuse
The Silver Springs facility is strategically located to serve the rapidly expanding solar industry in the western United States. With the capacity to store and process large volumes of solar panels, Comstock Metals is poised to lead the solar panel recycling sector, contributing to the reduction of landfilled electronic waste and recovery of valuable materials.
Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals added, "Our first industry scale facility, targeting 100,000 tons per year of waste solar panel processing capacity is in the latter stages of permitting and still expected during the fourth quarter of this year, so we can commence commissioning in the first quarter of 2026. We will begin ordering equipment this summer. With the acceleration of large-scale customers’ acquisitions for high-volume, longer-term commitments, we needed expanded storage capability for our first planned industry-scale site. This permit strongly achieves that objective.”
Comstock Metals is also the first solar panel recycling company in North America to be certified by SERI 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
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:
Judd B. Merrill, Chief Financial 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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Some of those risks and uncertainties include the risk factors set forth in our filings with the SEC and the following: adverse effects of climate changes or natural disasters; adverse effects of global or regional pandemic disease spread or other crises; global economic and capital market uncertainties; the speculative nature of gold or mineral exploration, and lithium, nickel and cobalt recycling, including risks of diminishing quantities or grades of qualified resources; operational or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, metal recycling, processing or mining activities; costs, hazards and uncertainties associated with precious and other metal based activities, including environmentally friendly and economically enhancing clean mining and processing technologies, precious metal exploration, resource development, economic feasibility assessment and cash generating mineral production; costs, hazards and uncertainties associated with metal recycling, processing or mining activities; contests over our title to properties; potential dilution to our stockholders from our stock issuances, recapitalization and balance sheet restructuring activities; potential inability to comply with applicable government regulations or law; adoption of or changes in legislation or regulations adversely affecting our businesses; permitting constraints or delays; challenges to, or potential inability to, achieve the benefits of business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, us, including those involving battery technology and efficacy, quantum computing and generative artificial intelligence supported advanced materials development, development of cellulosic technology in bio-fuels and related material production; commercialization of cellulosic technology in bio-fuels and generative artificial intelligence development services; ability to successfully identify, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions, spin-offs or similar distribution transactions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, business combinations, asset sales, and investments that we may be party to in the future; changes in the United States or other monetary or fiscal policies or regulations; interruptions in our production capabilities due to capital constraints; equipment failures; fluctuation of prices for gold or certain other commodities (such as silver, zinc, lithium, nickel, cobalt, cyanide, water, diesel, gasoline and alternative fuels and electricity); changes in generally accepted accounting principles; adverse effects of war, mass shooting, terrorism and geopolitical events; potential inability to implement our business strategies; potential inability to grow revenues; potential inability to attract and retain key personnel; interruptions in delivery of critical supplies, equipment and raw materials due to credit or other limitations imposed by vendors; assertion of claims, lawsuits and proceedings against us; potential inability to satisfy debt and lease obligations; potential inability to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting; potential inability or failure to timely file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission; potential inability to list our securities on any securities exchange or market or maintain the listing of our securities; and work stoppages or other labor difficulties. 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