Solar Panels

Special Instructions

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

Contact the manufacturer of your solar panels to see if they have a program for recycling or refurbishing old/unused panels. 

Or, you may contact Clean Earth and/or e-Recycling to accept solar panels (intact or broken).  Access their information as well as other vendors through these links:

  1.  Department of Toxic Controls (DTSC) for a list of Universal Waste Handlers that Accept PV Modules (Solar Panels).
  2.  Department of Toxic Controls (DTSC) of Universal Waste Recyclers that Treat PV Modules (Solar Panels)

NOTE: West Contra Costa Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility at 101 Pittsburg Avenue in Richmond, CA and RecycleMore El Cerrito Satellite HHW Facility at 7501 Schmidt Lane does not accept the panels (intact or broken) and RecycleMore has requested to be removed from the list of handlers that accept PV Modules (Solar Panels) as of September 2022, from the DTSC.

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

1) Solar Panels (intact or broken) should not be placed in a C&D debris box.

2) Here is more information on Solar Panel Recycling from the United States Environmental Protection Agency:

Solar Panel Recycling | US EPA

Trash Bin

Never Toss or Dump Illegally

Solar panels contain heavy metals such as silver, copper, lead, arsenic, cadmium and selenium. Don’t throw them away or dump them because they can leach toxic chemicals into the environment.

Broom-Handle

Treat Broken Panels as Hazardous Waste

Broken pieces must be cleaned up and properly packaged to minimize the potential escape of hazardous materials. Contact the solar panel manufacturer for detailed instructions on cleanup and disposal.

Did You Know?

Solar Panels a Toxic Problem for Landfills?

California has had incentive programs for home solar panels dating back as far as 2006. Now these panels are nearing the end of their life, and without a clear way to recycle them, many are ending up in landfills. Read more from the LA Times.