This briefing note touches on the status quo in South Africa with regards to circular economy in solar photovoltaic (PV) sectors. The capacity of installed PV has increased exponentially from 1.7 GWp to 8.1 GWp in the last 8 years. Early projections of local waste generated by this rapid PV uptake estimate that there will be around one million tonnes of PV waste by 2050. The lack of comprehensive end-of-life (EoL) regulations and recycling infrastructure in South Africa, combined with challenges related to waste collection and transportation, highlights the need for strategic planning to address PV waste and promote a circular economy. This leads us to the proposed PhD research that aims to more accurately predict future PV waste streams in South Africa, reduce PV waste through placement and longevity optimization, and create an accessible tool to assist decision makers with these results.