How to Recycle & Dispose of Solar Panels in California
Straight answer: solar panels typically last more than 25 years, and when they come down in California they don’t go in the trash — since January 1, 2021 the state has let end-of-life panels be managed as universal waste, a streamlined hazardous-waste category, so they go to a handler or recycler. More than 85% of a panel is made of materials we already know how to recycle, mostly glass. But the EPA says panel recycling is not yet happening on a large scale, and in standard processes the silicon cells may simply be incinerated. Home batteries are banned from the trash and go back through the manufacturer or installer.
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- Panels typically last more than 25 years; at the module median of about 0.5% a year, a panel still makes about 88% of its rated power after 25. Many come down early for a re-roof, an upgrade or damage.
- About 75% of a silicon panel’s weight is glass, and more than 85% of a panel is made of materials we already know how to recycle. The hard part is the laminated polymer layers and the cells.
- California has let end-of-life panels be managed as universal waste since January 1, 2021. The federal EPA is still developing its own rule.
- Routes, best first: reuse if they still work, a manufacturer take-back, a recycler certified to R2 or e-Stewards, or let your installer handle it. Never household trash.
- California bans all batteries from the trash, and its battery stewardship law doesn’t cover big home batteries — those go back through the manufacturer or installer.
When do solar panels actually reach end of life?
Later than most people expect — and usually for reasons other than age.
The EPA describes solar panels as typically lasting more than 25 years (EPA). They don’t fail all at once; they lose output slowly. NREL’s review of field measurements puts the median module loss at about 0.5% a year, which leaves a panel at about 88% of its rated power after 25 years; whole U.S. systems, including inverters and soiling, decline about 0.75% a year (NREL compendium, PV Fleet). The numbers are broken down in solar panel degradation in California.
So panels usually come off a roof because they were damaged, because the home is being re-roofed, or because the owner is upgrading to newer modules — and the big wave of retirements is still ahead: about 70% of U.S. systems were installed in 2017 or later (DOE).
What’s inside a panel — and what really gets recycled
A silicon panel is mostly ordinary materials. Which of them are recovered depends on the process.
| Component | Share or amount | Recycling |
|---|---|---|
| Glass front cover | About 75% of the weight | Glass recycling is an established industry |
| Aluminum frame | — | Easily recyclable; usually removed first |
| Copper wire and plastic junction box | Small | Easily recyclable |
| Silicon solar cells | A thin layer | More difficult; in standard crush-and-shred processes the cells may be incinerated |
| Silver and internal copper | Very small amounts | Valuable, but hard to recover from such small amounts |
| Polymer layers and backsheet | The laminate that seals the panel | Make disassembly difficult; high temperatures are often needed to loosen the adhesive |
| Lead and cadmium | May be present | The reason some panels test as hazardous waste |
Source: US EPA — Solar Panel Recycling. Thin-film cadmium-telluride panels, a smaller share of the market, go through a different process; at least one U.S. maker runs dedicated recycling that also recovers the semiconductor.
The DOE puts it this way: more than 85% of a solar module is made of materials we already know how to recycle, like aluminum and glass, yet panel recycling is not currently cost-effective or widely adopted (DOE). The EPA adds that elements of the process exist in the United States but it is not yet happening on a large scale; where panels go through existing glass, metal and electronics lines, glass, aluminum and copper are typically recovered and the rest, including the silicon cells, may be incinerated (EPA). For what those layers do, see how solar panels work.
California’s rules: not in the household trash
Whether a discarded panel is hazardous depends on the panel, and California created a simpler path for those that are.
Under federal law a discarded panel is hazardous waste if it fails the toxicity test, most often because lead or cadmium could leach from it; panels from different makers and models differ (EPA). To make recycling easier, California reclassified end-of-life PV modules as universal waste under its hazardous-waste program, beginning January 1, 2021. Universal waste is a streamlined category: it can be stored longer than ordinary hazardous waste without a permit and shipped without a hazardous-waste manifest, but it must be handled so nothing is released and must end up at a properly permitted facility (EPA briefing paper, 2021). California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control administers the rule.
For a homeowner that means one thing: don’t put old panels in household trash or a landfill bin. Hand them to your installer, a manufacturer program or a recycler that accepts universal waste. This is general information, not legal or disposal advice; classifications can change, so confirm with the recycler.
Still in development
On October 23, 2023, the EPA announced it is developing a proposed rule to add solar panels to the federal universal-waste regulations, partly in response to an industry petition; its page still describes that rule as in development. A handful of states have their own policies — California’s universal-waste rule, and Washington’s module stewardship and take-back program among them (EPA). In California, the state rule governs today.
Where to recycle old solar panels
In rough order of preference.
Reuse first, if they still work
A panel that still produces can be resold or donated. Reuse beats recycling — but have it tested; damaged panels shouldn’t go back on a roof.
Manufacturer take-back
Some panel makers accept their own old or defective modules. Ask the brand on your system before paying for recycling.
A certified recycler
The EPA points to recyclers certified to SERI’s R2 standard or e-Stewards. In California, the recycler must also accept PV modules as universal waste.
Let your installer handle it
On many removals the installer palletizes the modules and ships them to a recycler — usually the simplest path.
Find one yourself
The EPA lists three places to search: the DOE’s solar manufacturing map, which includes recyclers; Earth911; and the Solar Energy Industries Association’s National PV Recycling Program.
Keep the paperwork
Ask the recycler for a certificate of recycling and keep it with your home records.
Recycler standards and search tools: US EPA — Solar Panel Recycling.
Re-roof, removal or upgrade: most panels don’t get scrapped
Taking panels off a roof isn’t the same as disposing of them.
A common reason panels come down is a roof replacement, and then the same panels are usually detached, stored and reinstalled on the new roof. Only broken or obsolete panels head to a recycler. Plan the two jobs together; see removing and reinstalling solar for a roof replacement. The same goes for an upgrade to newer modules: the old ones may have reuse value before recycling is even on the table. A licensed installer (Cali Energy is CSLB #1032379) can remove the array, sort what is reusable and route the rest to a recycler.
What to do when panels come down
- Still working? Have them tested, then resell or donate them.
- Coming down for a re-roof? Plan a removal and reinstall so good panels go back up.
- Truly done or damaged? Ask the manufacturer about take-back first.
- Otherwise use a recycler certified to R2 or e-Stewards that accepts PV modules as universal waste.
- Let your installer palletize and ship them if you can.
- Never put panels in household trash.
- Keep the certificate of recycling.
An honest word on the state of solar recycling
The system works, but it is young.
In January 2021 the EPA wrote that recycled modules likely represented only a small fraction of U.S. end-of-life panels, with some going to landfills and others stored until cheaper recycling develops (EPA). Its current guidance still calls large-scale panel recycling a work in progress, and the DOE says recycling is not yet cost-effective or widely adopted. The upside is timing: with most U.S. systems installed since 2017, the big retirement volumes are years away, and the DOE is funding research to make recovery economical in the meantime (DOE). Treat any “90% recovered” claim as what a facility can do, not what every panel gets.
What about the home battery?
Batteries follow a separate, stricter path.
California bans all batteries — rechargeable and single-use — from the trash, recycling and organics bins (CalRecycle), and batteries are the top cause of fires in the state’s waste facilities. The state’s Responsible Battery Recycling Act sets up a collection program for smaller batteries, but it excludes rechargeable batteries over 5 kilograms and 300 watt-hours (CalRecycle) — and a home storage battery is far beyond both. Have the manufacturer or your installer remove and recycle it; never handle a failed or damaged battery yourself.
Frequently asked
Can I throw old solar panels in the trash in California?
No. Since January 1, 2021 California has let end-of-life PV modules be managed as universal waste, a streamlined hazardous-waste category, because some panels can leach lead or cadmium. Route them to your installer, a manufacturer program or a recycler that accepts universal waste. General information — confirm with the recycler.
Are solar panels actually recyclable?
Mostly. About 75% of a silicon panel’s weight is glass, and more than 85% of a panel is made of materials we already know how to recycle, according to the DOE. But the EPA says panel recycling is not yet happening on a large scale: standard processes recover the glass, aluminum and copper, and the silicon cells may be incinerated.
Where do I recycle solar panels in California?
Ask the panel manufacturer about take-back first, then use a recycler certified to R2 or e-Stewards that accepts PV modules as universal waste — or let your installer palletize and ship them. The EPA points to the DOE’s solar manufacturing map, Earth911 and SEIA to find recyclers.
What happens to my panels when I replace the roof?
Usually nothing gets recycled. The panels are detached, stored and reinstalled on the new roof; only broken or obsolete panels go to a recycler. See removing and reinstalling solar for a re-roof.
How long do solar panels last before they need replacing?
The EPA says more than 25 years. Modules lose a median of about 0.5% of their output a year in NREL’s review, so a panel still makes about 88% of its rated power after 25 years; whole systems decline about 0.75% a year. More in solar panel degradation in California.
How do I dispose of an old home solar battery?
Not in the trash — California bans all batteries from household bins. The state’s battery recycling program doesn’t cover rechargeable batteries over 5 kg and 300 Wh, so a home battery goes back through the manufacturer or your installer. Don’t handle a failed or damaged battery yourself.
Related reading
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page come from the primary sources below and, where noted, from Cali Energy calculations using the stated assumptions. Rates, incentives, and program terms change; each was verified October 1, 2026.
- US EPA — Solar Panel Recycling
- US EPA — End-of-Life Solar Panels: Regulations and Management
- US EPA — Renewable Energy Waste Streams briefing paper (January 2021)
- US DOE — Beyond Recycling: Reducing Waste from Solar Modules Before They’re Even Made (March 2024)
- Jordan & Kurtz — Photovoltaic Degradation Rates: An Analytical Review (NREL)
- PV Fleet Performance Data Initiative — Final Technical Report (NREL, 2025)
- CalRecycle — Battery Stewardship (Responsible Battery Recycling Act)
- CalRecycle — Household hazardous waste banned from the trash
- US DOE — Solar Manufacturing Map (includes recyclers)
- Earth911 — recycling locator
Removing, replacing, or recycling an old system?
Whether you’re re-roofing, upgrading or retiring old panels, we can remove the array safely and route what can’t be reused to a recycler. Call +1-323-844-7777 for a straight answer.
Get a free estimatePrepared by Cali Energy, October 1, 2026. This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, financial, engineering, or utility advice. Rates, incentives, codes, permit requirements, equipment specifications, prices, and program terms may change; figures and timelines are estimates, not guarantees. Confirm current requirements with the applicable utility, AHJ, program administrator, manufacturer, or a licensed professional. See our Content Disclaimer. Cali Energy · 19201 Parthenia St, Unit E, Northridge, CA 91324 · CSLB #1032379 (B, C-10, C-39)