How to Recycle & Dispose of Solar Panels in California
Straight answer: modern solar panels usually last 25–30+ years, and when they finally come down you generally can't just toss them in the landfill in California. Most of a panel — glass, an aluminum frame, silicon and small amounts of metal — is recyclable. The state lets end-of-life modules be handled as “universal waste,” and the usual route is a manufacturer take-back program or a certified recycler.
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- Panels usually last 25–30+ years; most that come down early are removed for a re-roof or upgrade, not thrown away.
- Roughly 90% of a panel's weight — glass, aluminum and silicon — is recyclable, though U.S. recycling capacity is still maturing.
- California generally does not let you landfill end-of-life panels: since 2021 the state allows them to be managed as “universal waste,” a streamlined hazardous-waste category (confirm the current rule with DTSC).
- Best routes: a manufacturer take-back program or an R2- or e-Stewards-certified recycler — your installer can usually handle it.
When do solar panels actually reach end of life?
Sooner or later every system comes down — but usually much later than people expect.
Most modern crystalline-silicon panels are built to run for 25 to 30+ years, and many keep producing well beyond that. They don't suddenly die; they slowly lose output. Field data compiled by NREL puts median degradation at roughly 0.5% a year, so a typical panel still makes around 88% of its original power after 25 years. Manufacturer performance warranties are often written to about that level — those are common examples, not market-wide facts, and vary by brand and contract. We break the numbers down in how long solar panels last in California.
So “disposal” is rarely about age alone. Panels usually come off a roof because they were damaged (storm, impact, a failed backsheet), because the home is being re-roofed, or because the owner is upgrading to newer, higher-output modules. Only the panels that are genuinely broken or obsolete actually need recycling or disposal.
What's inside a panel — and what's recyclable
A solar panel is mostly ordinary, recyclable materials with a few valuable metals mixed in. Here's the breakdown and where each part ends up.
| Component | Share by weight* | Recyclable? | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass (front cover) | ~70–75% | Yes, widely | Crushed into cullet → new glass, fiberglass or insulation |
| Aluminum frame | ~8–10% | Yes, readily | Sold as scrap aluminum and remelted |
| Silicon solar cells | ~3–5% | Increasingly | Recovered silicon → new cells or metallurgical uses |
| Copper & silver (wiring, contacts) | small | Yes — valuable | Sent to metal refiners for recovery |
| Polymer backsheet & encapsulant | ~2–3% | Limited | Hard to separate — often energy recovery or landfill |
| Junction box, cables, connectors | small | Partly | Handled as electronic-waste components |
*Approximate, by weight; the exact mix varies by panel. Sources: US EPA — Solar Panel Recycling · US DOE. Modern recyclers can recover roughly 90%+ of a panel's weight — an illustrative figure, not a guarantee for every facility or panel.
The takeaway: by weight a panel is mostly glass and an aluminum frame — both easy to recycle — plus a thin layer of silicon and tiny amounts of copper and silver worth recovering. The tricky parts are the plastic backsheet and the encapsulant that laminate everything together; separating them cleanly is the hard, costly step, which is why recovery isn't yet 100%. For the basics of what those layers do, see how solar panels work.
California's rules: don't put them in household trash
Some discarded panels test as hazardous waste and some don't (it depends on the panel and the waste determination), but for a homeowner the safe rule is the same: don't landfill them with household trash — route them through your installer or a recycler. Because panels can contain small amounts of heavy metals, California regulates how they're thrown away.
When a panel is discarded it can contain trace lead, cadmium, selenium, silver or copper, and some modules may test as hazardous waste under California's Hazardous Waste Control Law (and potentially federal RCRA rules). To make disposal simpler, California's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) adopted rules — in effect since January 1, 2021 — that let end-of-life PV modules be managed as “universal waste.” Universal waste is a lighter-touch category than full hazardous waste (longer accumulation time, no hazardous-waste manifest, simpler recordkeeping), which makes it easier to collect panels and route them to recyclers rather than landfills (DTSC).
What that means for a homeowner, in plain terms: don't put old panels in your household trash or a standard landfill. Hand them to your installer, a manufacturer take-back program, or an authorized recycler instead. This is general information, not legal or disposal advice — classifications and programs can change, so confirm the current rule with DTSC or your recycler before you get rid of anything.
The federal rule is still catching up
At the national level, the U.S. EPA has proposed adding end-of-life solar panels to its own universal-waste rules, but as of 2026 that federal rule was still working through the proposal stage — so in California it's the state rules above that govern today. Treat any specific classification as something to verify, not a permanent fact (US EPA).
Where to recycle old solar panels
You have a few good options in California — in rough order of preference.
Reuse first, if they still work
A panel that still produces can be resold or donated for a second life. Reusing beats recycling — but have it tested first; damaged panels shouldn't be reinstalled.
Manufacturer take-back
Some panel makers run take-back or extended-producer-responsibility programs and will accept old or defective modules for recycling. Ask the brand on your system.
Certified recyclers
The EPA recommends recyclers certified to the R2 or e-Stewards standard, which govern safe handling of the metals inside. In California, look for a DTSC-authorized universal-waste handler.
Let your installer handle it
On most removals, your installer will palletize the modules and ship them to a recycler for you — often the simplest path, and a normal part of a removal job.
Find a local drop-off
Databases like Earth911 and your county's household-hazardous-waste program can point you to nearby e-waste and PV collection points.
Keep the paperwork
Some recyclers issue a certificate of recycling. Keep it — useful proof the panels were handled properly, especially for larger systems.
Recycler-standard guidance: US EPA — Solar Panel Recycling.
Re-roof, removal or upgrade: most panels don't get scrapped
An important distinction: taking panels off a roof isn't the same as disposing of them.
The most common reason panels come down is a roof replacement. In that case the same panels are usually detached, stored, and reinstalled once the new roof is on — nothing gets recycled. Only panels that are broken, obsolete, or not worth reinstalling head to a recycler. If a re-roof is on your horizon, plan the two jobs together so your good panels go back up; we walk through it in removing and reinstalling solar for a roof replacement.
Same idea for an upgrade: if you swap to newer, higher-output modules, the old ones may still have resale or reuse value before recycling is even on the table. A licensed installer (Cali Energy is CSLB #1032379) can remove the array safely, sort what's reusable, and route the rest to a recycler.
What to do when panels come down
- Still working? Have them tested — resell or donate for reuse before recycling.
- Coming down for a re-roof? Plan a removal & reinstall so good panels go back up.
- Truly done or damaged? Ask about a manufacturer take-back program first.
- Otherwise route them to an R2- or e-Stewards-certified recycler (or a DTSC-authorized handler in CA).
- Let your installer palletize and haul them — usually the easiest option.
- Never put panels in household trash or an ordinary landfill.
- Ask for a certificate of recycling and keep it.
An honest word on the state of solar recycling
The system works, but it's still young.
Panel recycling is real and growing — dedicated PV recyclers have opened in the U.S., and in early 2026 California's DTSC approved an additional facility to treat PV modules as universal waste. But capacity is still limited relative to the wave of panels expected to retire over the next decade, and cleanly separating a laminated panel is costly, so not every recycler recovers the same share of materials. Recovery figures like “90%+” are illustrative of what modern facilities can do, not a promise for every panel or plant. The encouraging part: because most of today's installs are still young, the big recycling volumes are years away — and the infrastructure is maturing in the meantime.
What about the home battery?
Solar batteries follow a separate — and stricter — disposal path.
A home storage battery is a large lithium-ion unit, and in California discarded lithium batteries are treated as household hazardous waste / universal waste — it's illegal to put them in the trash, and they can be a fire risk if damaged. You should never handle a failed home battery yourself; have the manufacturer or your installer remove and recycle it. California's Responsible Battery Recycling Act generally covers batteries under ~5 kg / 300 Wh — NOT a home storage battery, so for a large stationary battery contact the manufacturer/installer; smaller-battery drop-off networks like Call2Recycle and the Earth911 locator list battery drop-offs. The rules here are actively evolving, so confirm the current process before disposal.
Frequently asked
Can I throw old solar panels in the trash in California?
Generally no. Discarded panels can contain small amounts of heavy metals and may test as hazardous, so California lets end-of-life PV modules be managed as “universal waste” (rules in effect since January 1, 2021) rather than sent to ordinary landfill. In practice, route them to your installer, a manufacturer take-back program, or a certified recycler. This is general information — confirm the current rule with DTSC or your recycler.
Are solar panels actually recyclable?
Yes. By weight, roughly 90% of a panel is recyclable material — mostly glass (~70–75%), an aluminum frame, and silicon, plus small amounts of copper and silver worth recovering. The hard part is the plastic backsheet and encapsulant that laminate everything together, which is why recovery isn't yet 100%. Those percentages are approximate and vary by panel and facility.
Where do I recycle solar panels in California?
Three main routes: a manufacturer take-back program (ask the brand on your system), an R2- or e-Stewards-certified recycler (the standards the EPA recommends) or a DTSC-authorized universal-waste handler, or simply letting your installer palletize and ship them for you. The Earth911 database and your county's household-hazardous-waste program can also point you to local drop-offs.
What happens to my panels when I replace the roof?
Usually nothing gets recycled. For a roof replacement, the same panels are typically detached, stored, and reinstalled once the new roof is on — only broken or obsolete panels head to a recycler. Plan the two jobs together so your good panels go back up. We cover it in removing and reinstalling solar for a re-roof.
How long do solar panels last before they need replacing?
Modern panels typically last 25–30+ years, degrading only about 0.5% a year, so a panel still makes roughly 88% of its original output after 25 years (NREL). Many keep producing beyond that — these are estimates that vary by brand and conditions, not guarantees. More detail in solar panel degradation in California.
How do I dispose of an old home solar battery?
Not in the trash. A home battery is a large lithium-ion unit, and in California discarded lithium batteries are treated as household hazardous / universal waste and can be a fire risk if damaged. Have the manufacturer or your installer remove and recycle it — don't handle a failed battery yourself. Contact the battery manufacturer or your installer for approved removal and recycling instructions — California's Responsible Battery Recycling Act generally does NOT cover large stationary batteries (over ~5 kg or 300 Wh), so a home battery is routed through an authorized hazardous- or universal-waste channel by qualified personnel; rules are evolving, so confirm the current process first.
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 July 15, 2026.
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 certified recycler. Call +1-323-844-7777 for a straight answer.
Get a free estimatePrepared by Cali Energy, July 15, 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)