End-of-life packaging materials (EOLPM) present an important challenge from an environmental and financial perspective at utility-scale solar energy (USSE) sites. Reuse on-site represents, in particular for remote sites, a significant contribution to sustainable business practice as it provides a higher value end use when used to develop on-site mulch to enable soil improvement, reducing transport emissions (from the least preferred option of off-site disposal to landfill), reducing costs, and employing local contractors. The objective of the study was to enable on-site reuse, which was primarily achieved through chemical and physicochemical characterization of EOLPM streams; cardboard, and wood. Given the common occurrence of these materials in the rapidly growing renewable energy sector, it represents an important scope of work for the sector internationally. The methods used for characterization of the EOLPM, the first of its type reported, included a range of organic and inorganic chemical analyses, phytotoxicity testing, followed by an environmental and high-level (or initial) financial benefit cost analysis. Key scientific findings were that only trace concentrations of chemicals of potential concern (COPC) were detected; the material was not phytotoxic and has potential for soil improvement at the site, and the selected option of on-site reuse (of the materials as a mulch) had a global warming potential of 50 times less than the business as usual option (transport to landfill). The results also demonstrated the broader potential for using EOLPMs from USSE sites for soil improvement at remote locations rather than transporting offsite for disposal or reuse. Structural changes will need to be made to the way in which markets operate to achieve circular economy outcomes for these EOLPMs.

中文翻译：

---

评估处理太阳能光伏电站产生的包装废物的技术选择：一个远程站点的案例研究

从公用事业规模的太阳能（USSE）站点的环境和财务角度来看，报废包装材料（EOLPM）提出了一项重要挑战。现场再利用，特别是对于偏远地区，对可持续商业实践做出了重大贡献，因为当用于开发现场覆盖物以改善土壤，减少运输排放时，它可以提供更高价值的最终用途（从异地处置以填埋），降低成本，并雇用当地承包商。该研究的目的是实现现场再利用，这主要是通过EOLPM物流的化学和物理化学表征来实现的；纸板和木材。鉴于这些材料在快速发展的可再生能源领域中普遍存在，它代表了该行业在国际上的重要工作范围。用于EOLPM表征的方法是首次报道的类型，包括一系列有机和无机化学分析，植物毒性测试，然后进行环境和高水平（或初始）财务收益成本分析。关键的科学发现是，仅检测到痕量的潜在关注化学品（COPC）；该材料无植物毒性，并有可能在当地改善土壤，并且现场再利用（材料作为覆盖物）的选定选项具有的全球变暖潜力比常规做法小50倍（运输到垃圾填埋场）。结果还表明，使用USSE站点的EOLPM进行偏远土壤改良的潜力更大，而不是将其运至异地进行处置或再利用。这些EOLPM的市场运作方式必须实现结构变化，以实现循环经济成果。