Press Releases July 21, 2026 06:15 AM

Comstock Metals and Illuminate USA Sign Service Agreement for Recycling Solar Panel Manufacturing Materials

Comstock Metals and Illuminate USA partner to recycle solar panel manufacturing materials, advancing sustainable solar energy supply chains

By Ajmal Hussain
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Comstock Inc., trading under ticker LODE on NYSE American, announced a new service agreement between its subsidiary Comstock Metals and Illuminate USA to provide comprehensive, zero-landfill recycling services for solar panel manufacturing byproducts from Illuminate's Ohio facility. This collaboration emphasizes environmental responsibility and circular economy principles, supporting the sustainable production and recycling of solar energy materials in North America.

Comstock Metals and Illuminate USA Sign Service Agreement for Recycling Solar Panel Manufacturing Materials
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Key Points

  • Comstock Metals will handle safe transportation, sorting, and environmentally responsible recycling of solar panel manufacturing waste from Illuminate USA's advanced Ohio facility.
  • Illuminate USA operates the largest single-site solar panel manufacturing facility in North America, producing over 15 million panels since 2024 with a 5-gigawatt annual capacity.
  • This partnership strengthens the clean energy supply chain by promoting circularity and stewardship, reducing landfill waste in the solar sector and advancing sustainable manufacturing practices.

SILVER SPRINGS, Nev., July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comstock Inc. (NYSE American: LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”), and Comstock Metals LLC a leader in the responsible, zero-landfill recycling of end-of-life solar panels with the first certified North American operations announced today that it has entered into a Solar Material Recycling Services Agreement with Illuminate USA LLC.

Under the new agreement, Comstock Metals will provide comprehensive recycling services for solar panel materials from Illuminate USA’s advanced manufacturing operations in Pataskala, Ohio. The services include safe transportation, sorting, and environmentally responsible recycling for a broad range of solar panel manufacturing byproducts. Illuminate USA operates the largest single-site solar panel manufacturing facility in North America.

“Our partnership with Illuminate USA is a testament to the industry’s growing commitment to circularity and stewardship,” said Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals. “By providing a zero-landfill solution for solar panel manufacturing byproducts, we are helping Illuminate USA ensure that all materials are safely repurposed into new industrial goods, eliminating all downstream liability, and giving their team peace of mind knowing all materials are responsibly recycled. This is a major step toward enabling and aligning a truly systemic solar energy ecosystem.”

Comstock operates a growing, strategically positioned national recycling network, including Central Ohio, to serve customers throughout the broader Midwest, one of the larger and most centrally located solar markets in the country.

The agreement further positions Comstock Metals and Illuminate USA as leaders in the solar panel recycling and advanced manufacturing industries, respectively. The two companies will work together over the next few years to responsibly recycle various material streams.

Illuminate USA operates a state-of-the-art facility in Ohio producing advanced technology solar panels for a wide range of applications. The company is dedicated to delivering advanced and efficient solar panels while building sustainable systems into its operations.

“Our new partnership with Comstock Metals strengthens our commitment to environmental responsibility,” said Bryan Kresak, Illuminate’s Vice President of Environmental, Health, Safety and Facilities. “Together, we are taking these important steps to ensure that our operations reflect our deeply held values and advance sustainable practices across the industry.”

The partnership marks a significant step in Comstock Metals’ and Illuminate USA’s strategy to expand their roles in enabling a clean supply chain for solar energy production at each stage of the life cycle.

About Illuminate USA

Illuminate USA is a leading U.S.-based solar panel manufacturer focused on innovation, quality, and domestic production. Headquartered in Pataskala, Ohio. Illuminate USA operates a state-of-the-art, 1.1 million square foot facility that uses advanced and efficient technology to produce solar panels for a variety of applications. The company began production in February 2024 and has produced more than 15 million solar panels. With a workforce of over 1,600 skilled professionals and a five-gigawatt annual capacity, Illuminate USA is dedicated to delivering reliable, high-quality products that power communities. For more information, visit us online at IlluminateUSA.com.

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 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, systems and supply chains that enable, support and sustain clean energy systems by efficiently, effectively, and expediently extracting and converting under-utilized natural resources into reusable metals, like silver, aluminum, gold, and other critical minerals, primarily from end-of-life photovoltaics and renewable fuels and other forms of energy.

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
[email protected]

For media inquiries:
Zach Spencer, Director of External Relations
Tel (775) 847-7573
[email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release and any related calls or discussions may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “forecast,” “seek,” “target,” “should,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “potential” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of doing so. Forward-looking statements include statements about matters such as: future market conditions; future financial, natural, and social gains; future prices and sales of, and demand for, our products and services; permits; production capacity and operations; operating and overhead costs; future capital expenditures and their impact on us; operational and management changes (including changes in the Board of Directors); changes in business strategies, planning and tactics; future employment and contributions of personnel, including consultants; future land and asset sales; investments, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances and business combinations; litigation, administrative or arbitration proceedings; environmental compliance and changes in the regulatory environment; offerings of equity or debt securities; and future working capital needs, revenues, variable costs, throughput rates, operating expenses, debt levels, cash flows, margins, taxes and earnings. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical and current trends, current conditions, possible future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, representations or warranties and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control and could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Some of those risks and uncertainties include the risk factors set forth in our filings with the SEC. Occurrence of such events or circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, or the market price of our securities. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements by or attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Except as may be required by securities or other law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither this press release nor any related calls or discussions constitutes an offer to sell, the solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation with respect to any securities of the Company or any other issuer.


Risks

  • Forward-looking statements imply risks including market demand fluctuations for recycled materials and solar panels, affecting financial results and operations.
  • Regulatory changes in environmental compliance or recycling requirements could increase costs or operational challenges.
  • Dependence on the successful scaling and integration of recycling operations with solar manufacturing processes entails execution risk impacting projected sustainability benefits.

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