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Many components of solar panels can be recycled or reused, but cost and infrastructure can make that difficult.
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Solar panels contain toxic chemicals that can pollute soil and water if not disposed of properly.
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Regulatory policy around solar panel disposal is still lacking or even non-existent in many areas.
Solar energy offers tremendous benefits for the environment, but the question of how to dispose of them properly is still an issue in many parts of the world. There are many parts of solar panels that can be recycled, reused, or repurposed. However, that often doesn’t happen, leading to out-of-use solar panels ending up in landfills, negating some of their environmental benefits.
In this article, we take a look at how solar panels are disposed of and the environmental impact of those methods. You’ll also learn about regulatory policy around solar panel disposal in different countries and regions.
How the solar panel disposal process works
Solar panels need to be disposed of in some fashion, either when they reach the end of their life cycle or if they are damaged. Disposal of solar panels is an important part of their life cycle, and how they get disposed of has a substantial effect on their carbon footprint.
The process of properly decommissioning and disposing of solar panels involves several steps. Responsible disposal includes inspecting the panels, dismantling them, recovering reusable and recyclable materials, and safe disposal of the materials that remain.
In the table below, we provide an overview of some of the methods used to dispose of solar panels before taking a more detailed look later in the article.
| Disposal method | Description | Key processes involved | Environmental impact | Common usage contexts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landfilling | Disposal of panels in a municipal or industrial waste landfill. | Transport, burial, compaction | Risk of leaching toxic materials; low cost | Regions without recycling infrastructure |
| Mechanical recycling | Physical separation of components (e.g., glass, aluminum) using machinery. | Shredding, sorting, magnetic separation | Low emissions but partial material recovery | Entry-level recycling facilities |
| Thermal treatment | High-temperature processing to remove polymers and recover materials. | Heating, incineration, off-gas handling | Energy-intensive; can release harmful emissions | Industrial-scale recycling plants |
| Chemical recycling | Use of solvents or acids to dissolve and separate panel materials. | Acid leaching, solvent baths, precipitation | Potential chemical waste; high material purity | Advanced, small-scale or experimental settings |
| Reuse and refurbishment | Repair and redeployment of functioning panels or components. | Testing, inverter replacement, reinstallation | Environmentally beneficial; limited by demand | Off-grid applications, developing regions |
| Closed-loop recycling | Materials recovered are re-used in manufacturing new solar panels. | Integrated recovery, purification, reintroduction | Most sustainable; preserves raw material value | High-tech facilities, circular economy programs |
| Open-loop recycling | Materials reused in other industries (not necessarily solar panel production). | Recovery, reclassification for other applications | Reduces waste; less value retained for industry | Construction, glass, aluminum industries |
| Illegal dumping | Unregulated disposal without proper oversight. | None (unauthorized activity) | Severe pollution, legal violations | Remote areas, countries with lax enforcement |
Can solar panels always be recycled or reused?
Local recycling, manufacturer programs, specialty recyclers, and waste management infrastructure determine which options are available for solar panel disposal, as do local regulations in a given area. Sometimes, homeowners who want to recycle their panels might not have the option in their area.
Ideal solar panel disposal: Recycling
Recycling is the ideal way to dispose of solar panels. Here’s how it works.
1. Pre-treatment and material separation
The first step in the proper disposal of solar panels is disassembling them and separating materials into categories. Some industrial recycling equipment includes automated sorting systems that remove metals and non-recyclable materials. But manual separation is still important as pre-sorting can significantly increase material recovery rates down the line.
Solar panels can be broken down into the following components in the first stage of disposal:
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Frames
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Glass
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Silicon cells
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Junction boxes
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Wiring
2. Secondary use through resale and repurposing
Not all solar panels need to be fully decommissioned. Older panels that have become too inefficient for residential use can still be useful in less demanding applications. Solar panels with more than 70% efficiency remaining can be reused in lower-voltage applications like powering RVs and off-grid setups.
3. Mechanical recycling of physical components
Many solar panel components can be recycled through common methods and existing infrastructure. Glass and aluminum, for example, have high recycling efficiency—meaning they can be recycled without losing significant amounts of material. Industrial equipment is used to crush, sort, and recompose them for future use.
4. Thermal and chemical treatment of silicon cells
While not as recyclable as the glass and metals in solar panel assemblies, the silicon used in photovoltaic (PV) cells can also be extracted and repurposed. This requires additional processing beyond separating and sorting the materials.
First, the panels undergo thermal treatment where heat is used to remove the ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and backsheet that secures the solar cells, allowing them to be removed. Then, a chemical process extracts the silicon wafers and cleans them so that they can be reused in other applications.
5. Disposal of hazardous photovoltaic materials
Some materials used in solar panels cannot be recycled. Some of those materials are toxic to humans and the environment, requiring regulated disposal methods to ensure safety.
Solar panels often contain toxic substances like cadmium and lead. Recyclers can isolate these materials during processing and separate them from other materials.
Separating non-toxic and reusable materials from toxic ones is more difficult in some types of solar panels than others. CdTe and CIGS solar panels—often referred to as thin-film solar panels—may need to be disposed of entirely. Doing so requires regulated waste handling.
Disposing of toxic materials and non-recyclable solar panels properly is critical to the health and safety of the environment. Improper dumping can contaminate soil and water and create health hazards for surrounding communities.
Less-than-ideal solar panel disposal: Landfill
As of 2023, an estimated 90% of decommissioned solar panels in the United States end up in landfills. By 2030, the nation is projected to generate up to one million tons of solar panel waste.
Since solar panels typically have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, the first generation of large-scale installations is starting to reach retirement age, and we can expect the volume of discarded panels to go up.
Why solar panels end up in landfills
The cost to recycle a single panel in the U.S. ranges from $15 to $45, compared to just $1 to $5 to send it to a landfill. For large-scale solar farms decommissioning thousands of panels, these costs add up quickly, making landfill disposal the path of least resistance.
Infrastructure challenges further compound the issue. Less than 10% to 15% of U.S. solar panels are recycled, largely due to the lack of universal take-back programs and the scarcity of specialized recycling facilities. Transporting panels to the nearest recycler can cost up to $2,000 per container, which is a prohibitive expense for many operators.
Policy enforcement and regional variation in disposal
While solar adoption has surged around the world in recent years, regulatory policy around their disposal still lags behind in many places. The EU has taken the lead in developing a regulatory framework to limit the environmental impact of decommissioned solar equipment. The Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive establishes strict standards for the collection, recovery, recycling, and disposal of solar panels and other e-waste.
Regulatory policy in the US is still in the early stages of development. Currently, the US does not have established regulations for solar panel disposal at the federal level. These policies have been left to state governments, whose regulations vary from one to another.
There are signs that solar panel disposal regulations may be on the way in parts of Asia. The governments of China and India are currently exploring policy options. However, at this time, enforcement of existing policies remains weak.
Inconsistency in regulatory policy has led to improper and potentially hazardous solar panel disposal in many parts of the world. In many places, solar panels are often simply landfilled, where they take up space and can leak toxic chemicals into soil and water.
What options do homeowners have?
Recycling options vary widely by state. While the EPA is considering adding solar panels to Universal Waste rules, most programs remain state-driven.
California Solar Panel Disposal
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Solar panels are regulated as universal waste under state law.
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Residents can find certified recyclers through CalRecycle or SEIA directories.
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Pending legislation may further streamline non-hazardous panel recycling.
Texas Solar Panel Disposal
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New laws require renewable projects to recycle all usable components.
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Facilities like SolarCycle (Odessa) and other e-waste centers now accept panels.
Northeast (New York, Massachusetts)
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New York is advancing a Solar Panel Collection Act requiring manufacturer take-back.
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Massachusetts is reviewing recycling practices but lacks formal mandates.
Midwest (Illinois, Minnesota)
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States require decommissioning plans for large projects but few homeowner programs.
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Residents rely on private recyclers or DOE/SEIA directories for disposal.
Southeast & Mountain West
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Recycling infrastructure is still sparse, though pilot programs are growing.
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Utilities sometimes partner with manufacturers to expand collection efforts.
Bottom line on solar panel disposal
Most solar panels can be recycled, but high costs and poor infrastructure lead many to landfills. There, they may leak toxic chemicals into soil and water. Weak or inconsistent regulations leave many homeowners with few safe disposal options.
FAQ about solar panel disposal
Below are a few frequently asked questions about solar panel disposal:
How do I get rid of solar panels?
The best way to get rid of solar panels is to take them to a solar recycling facility. If you don’t know where one is or don’t have one in your area, you should call your state or local recycling authority. Solar panels contain hazardous materials and should not be dumped into landfills.
Where do I dispose of solar panels?
You can dispose of solar panels at a local recycling facility or call a specialty solar waste company if one is available to you. You should never dump solar panels in a landfill, as they contain several toxic chemicals that could create health hazards in surrounding areas.
Is disposing of solar panels bad for the environment?
Disposing of solar panels in landfills is bad for the environment due to the presence of toxic chemicals and materials that could otherwise be reused. Many materials used in solar panels can be recycled, and those that can’t should be disposed of per proper protocols.