BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP
Twelve years ago, Alex Bare traded restaurant work for a position in electronics recycling. Today, he leads solar recycling operations at SPR.
Meet Alex Bare, SPR’s Solar Lead and the person responsible for keeping its people, equipment, and panels moving.
Alex has been with SPR since its launch in 2023, but his history with its parent company, PowerHouse Recycling, goes back much further. After about three months in teardown, he moved into processing, eventually becoming a processing lead and then a supervisor.
By the time SPR launched, Alex was ready for a fresh learning curve.
“After a few years in processing, there wasn’t much I hadn’t seen,” he explains. “I liked the challenge of solar because it was completely new.”
In his current role, Alex tracks information about the different panels moving through the recycling process, assists with equipment maintenance, and makes sure his team has what it needs to keep production on pace.
“I’m a production-focused person. I like the continuous work,” Alex says. “My goal is to keep everything running so we can keep panels moving and get the work done on time for our customers.”
That focus on production required him to develop an entirely new skillset. He learned by watching others troubleshoot equipment, asking questions, and getting hands-on with the machinery.
“At first, I didn’t know what any of the parts were or how the machines worked,” he recalls. “Once you figure out what everything does and how all the parts work together, it starts to make sense.”
Alex has since learned to operate equipment such as lulls and Bobcats, load trucks efficiently, and help maintain SPR’s recycling lines. As the company introduces new equipment and continues refining its technology, he keeps learning alongside it.
That ability to adapt is essential in this evolving industry.
“Every day, we’re tackling different challenges and finding ways to make the machines and the process faster, smoother, and better,” he explains.
On any given day, a piece of equipment may need an adjustment or a step in the process may reveal an opportunity for improvement. For Alex, solving those problems is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
“Sometimes you run into an issue that feels like it can’t be solved, and then you figure it out,” he says. “That makes you feel accomplished. Making a real dent in the workload and keeping up with expectations feels good, too.”
Customers may never see Alex on the production floor, but his work directly affects the efficiency and cost of their recycling projects. Keeping the line moving helps SPR consistently process panels at scale, maintain project schedules, and return recovered materials to downstream applications.
That final step gives Alex the most confidence in the work SPR delivers.
“We’re taking something that has reached the end of its useful life and turning it into something useful again,” he says.
Outside of work, Alex trades solar panels for fishing poles and competes in tournaments with a few colleagues.
For someone who dislikes downtime, Alex is willing to make an exception when there might be a 40-pound catfish at the end of it.