A solar panel placed this spring is expected to continue generating electricity by the time today’s kindergartners finish college. These panels, designed to last between 25 and 30 years, are now reaching their lifespan’s end, particularly those installed during the solar boom of the 2000s.
This wave of panels reaching the end of their life marks the start of a significant challenge: efficiently recovering and reusing the materials that convert solar energy into electricity. Currently, a large portion of these valuable materials remains unrecovered, even though nearly every component can be recycled and reintroduced into the supply chain. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) anticipates solar panel waste could escalate to 78 million tons by 2050.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency projects that the United States might generate up to one million tons of panel waste by 2030 and could reach 10 million tons by 2050, ranking it as the second-highest national total globally. According to IRENA’s 2016 estimate, the recoverable raw materials from these end-of-life panels might be valued at approximately $450 million worldwide by 2030, potentially producing around 60 million new panels. By 2050, this could expand to a $15 billion value, equivalent to materials for about 2 billion panels.
The crystalline-silicon module, predominant in the solar panel market, primarily consists of glass, making up roughly 75% of its weight. It is framed in aluminum and incorporates copper wiring, polymer layers, a plastic backsheet, silicon cells, and a junction box. The high-value components include silver, copper, high-purity silicon, along with tin and antimony, and in thin-film panels, tellurium and indium.
Older panels contain trace amounts of lead in their solder, classifying them as hazardous waste upon breakdown, as highlighted by Inside Climate News. Thin-film modules from First Solar and others utilize cadmium telluride, stable within the panel but requiring specific handling at the end of its life. Thin-film panels hold a minor market share of less than 5% globally, with crystalline silicon being the primary focus for recycling.
Recycling these materials extends beyond landfill space conservation. Recycled aluminum production requires 95% less energy than aluminum sourced from ore, and recovering silver and silicon cuts down on mining and refining efforts needed for new panels.
Some of these metals are on the U.S. critical-minerals list. The EPA indicates that panels may contain aluminum, tin, tellurium, and antimony, along with gallium and indium in some thin-film modules, much of which is currently imported. Local recovery can alleviate disposal issues and enhance supply-chain resilience, especially as more panels are manufactured domestically.
The primary hurdle is economic. Landfill disposal costs approximately $1 to $5 per panel, whereas recycling costs range from $15 to $45, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, as noted by Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN). Meng Tao from Arizona State University, who researches PV recycling, conveyed to MIT Climate that recycling a panel costs about $20, while only $10 to $12 worth of materials can be recovered. Without subsidies, recycling isn’t financially viable for single rooftop systems.
The technical challenges exacerbate the financial ones. The EPA outlines recycling in three steps: removing the aluminum frame and junction box, separating the glass from the silicon wafer via thermal, mechanical, or chemical means, and purifying the metals like silver, silicon, and copper. While removing the frame is relatively simple, the process often ends there, with the remainder being shredded and sold as low-value glass cullet, according to C&EN. Extracting the glass from the cells and separating the silver and silicon is significantly more complex, with no current commercial process able to recover all materials effectively.
As a result, only about 10% of decommissioned panels in the U.S. are recycled, compared to approximately 85% in the European Union, as reported by Public Citizen. The positive trend is a rapid decrease in panel recycling costs: an industry analysis from Solar Power World shows a 42% reduction over three years, with advanced facilities now recovering up to 95% of a panel’s value.
| Landfill | Recycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per panel | $1 to $5 | $15 to $45 (and falling) |
| Materials recovered | None | Up to ~95% of a panel’s value: glass, aluminum, silver, copper, silicon |
| Long-term liability | Lost materials; possible leaching from older lead-soldered panels | Materials returned to the supply chain; lower environmental footprint |
| U.S. rate today | ~90% of decommissioned panels | ~10% of decommissioned panels |
Reusing panels provides a partial solution. Panels that fail early or are replaced during upgrades can still function, feeding a growing secondhand market that sells them at a discount for off-grid, agricultural, and international projects. Keeping panels operational or passing them on avoids the cost and complexity of recycling, making reuse a more prevalent outcome than recycling.
Public investment is beginning to change this trend. The U.S. Department of Energy has initiated several PV recycling projects to bridge the gap. However, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory predicts that, without accelerated efforts, only a tenth of U.S. panels will be recycled by mid-century. Despite this, progress is not inevitable.
According to MarketsandMarkets, the solar panel recycling market consists of over a dozen key players, revealing the industry’s nascent and diverse nature. This market includes panel manufacturers with take-back programs, dedicated PV recyclers, and global waste-management firms expanding into this field.
First Solar leads the first category. Since 2005, this U.S. thin-film manufacturer has operated a closed-loop process, recovering more than 90% of each module’s materials, including the semiconductor, for reuse.
Among dedicated recyclers, SOLARCYCLE has launched a high-capacity facility in Georgia in 2026 that recovers about 96% of a panel’s value — including silver, copper, aluminum, and glass — with plans to scale up to processing 5 gigawatts of panels annually, as Solar Washington reports. We Recycle Solar operates a utility-scale plant in Yuma, Arizona, and aims to quadruple its capacity by 2028. In Europe, ROSI, a French company, employs a thermal-and-chemical process to reclaim high-purity silicon and silver, recently securing over $20 million to establish a 10,000-ton-per-year facility in Spain. Veolia and Germany’s Reiling are notable European waste and glass recyclers expanding into the PV sector.
The emergence of these well-funded companies indicates the waste stream is now substantial enough to sustain an industry. However, most of this capacity is in Europe or at the utility scale, where project owners can absorb the cost, leaving fewer straightforward options for rooftop owners.
Solar Recycling Companies in 2026
| Company | What they do | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| First Solar, Inc. United States |
Thin-film (cadmium-telluride) maker that has run its own closed-loop recycling since 2005, recovering more than 90% of each module — including the semiconductor — for use in new panels. | Per-module Recycling Service Agreement (pay-as-you-go); rate not public |
| SOLARCYCLE, Inc. United States |
Dedicated recycler that recovers about 96% of a panel’s material value (aluminum, silver, copper, silicon, glass), with reverse logistics and ESG reporting for utility-scale projects. | By quote (utility / commercial) |
| Trina Solar China |
Global crystalline-silicon panel manufacturer included in recycling-market roundups; the source infographic lists it as developing recyclable TOPCon module solutions (manufacturer claim, not independently verified). | Not publicly listed (manufacturer) |
| Reiling GmbH & Co. KG Germany |
Century-old family recycler that tests modules for reuse, then recycles silicon-based PV to recover glass, metals, and plastics at its Münster site. | By quote (free non-binding offer) |
| ROSI France |
High-value recycler using thermal and chemical processes to recover high-purity silicon and silver, plus copper, aluminum, and glass; building a 10,000-ton-per-year plant in Spain. | By quote (B2B) |
| Veolia Environnement SA France |
Global waste and resource-management company expanding large-scale PV module recycling in Europe (per the market roundup). | By quote (B2B) |
| We Recycle Solar United States |
End-to-end recycler and remarketer of decommissioned panels; runs a utility-scale plant in Yuma, Arizona, with a major capacity expansion planned by 2028. | By quote; pays for resalable panels |
| Rinovasol Global Services B.V. Netherlands |
Specializes in testing and refurbishing used or damaged panels to extend their life, with recycling for modules that cannot be repaired. | By quote; purchases broken panels |
| PV Industries Australia |
Recycler focused on decommissioned rooftop and commercial panels; also takes racking and inverters, with pickup across much of Australia. | By quote (pickup service) |
| Reclaim PV Recycling Australia |
Whole-of-supply-chain take-back and pyrolysis recycling for panels and batteries through a national collection network and manufacturer partnerships. | By quote; manufacturer-funded take-back |
| The Retrofit Companies, Inc. United States |
Minnesota-based, woman-owned environmental services firm whose Retrofit Environmental division provides certified solar panel recycling for businesses. | By quote (B2B) |
| SILCONTEL LTD Israel |
Solar and semiconductor materials sourcing and project-development firm (polysilicon and wafers, including recycled grades); listed in the recycling roundup for material recovery. | By quote (materials trading) |
| Etavolt Pte. Ltd. Singapore |
Nanyang Technological University deep-tech spin-off offering PV regeneration (restoring degraded panels) and recycling, plus lifecycle and asset management; technology partner in Singapore’s automated SolaREV facility. | By quote (B2B) |
A note on pricing: most of these companies serve utilities, installers, and manufacturers and quote by project, so public per-panel rates are rare.
The disparity between 10% and 85% recycling rates largely stems from regulations. The EU’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive mandates that panel producers finance the collection and recycling of every panel sold in Europe. The United States lacks a similar federal framework.
However, change is on the horizon. In October 2023, the EPA revealed plans to add retired solar panels to its “universal waste” rules, categorizing them alongside widely generated hazardous materials like batteries and pesticides. Although initially slated for 2025, the proposal was delayed to February 2026, with a final rule expected by August 2027, as detailed by Inside Climate News. Until that time, most states will allow panels to be disposed of as regular trash.
Some states have taken independent action. Washington has established a manufacturer-funded stewardship program, requiring producers to collect panels at no cost to owners. California treats end-of-life panels as universal waste needing specialized handling, documented by Earth911. Texas and North Carolina are also beginning to restrict panel disposal. The fate of a retired panel currently depends largely on its location.
Federal regulations covering panels fall under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Individuals discarding panels must determine their hazardous waste status, which depends on whether metals like lead exceed regulatory leaching limits during standardized tests. Many intact silicon panels pass and are not hazardous, though older modules with lead-based solder might not.
For homeowners, the EPA advises contacting installers or state environmental agencies for guidance instead of making assumptions.
End-of-life options are improving, whether managing a single rooftop array or a portfolio of sites. Here are some practical steps:
For homeowners and individuals
- Keep panels in service as long as they function. Most modules last beyond their warranty period; early replacement generates unnecessary waste.
- Reuse or resell functional panels. A secondhand market exists for operational modules, often at a discount. Reuse is more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than recycling.
- Let your installer handle logistics. When replacing panels, inquire if your installer provides take-back services; many will palletize and send modules to a recycler.
- Find a certified recycler. Seek a dedicated PV recycler or an electronics recycler certified to the R2 or e-Stewards standard, as recommended by the EPA.
- Know your state’s regulations. Washington and California have formal programs; elsewhere, consult your state environmental agency before disposing of panels.
For businesses, installers, and project owners
- Incorporate decommissioning and recycling into project contracts and budgets from the start, rather than as an afterthought.
- Opt for recyclers certified to SERI’s R2 or e-Stewards standards, and prioritize those that recover high-value materials instead of downcycling glass.
For communities and policymakers
- Support extended producer responsibility and universal-waste rules, and participate in the EPA’s public comment period regarding the proposed solar panel rule.
The materials in a solar panel were extracted, refined, and assembled at a significant environmental cost. Recovering them closes the loop on an energy source intended to be environmentally friendly from start to finish, and the infrastructure, companies, and regulations are finally aligning with this goal.
now.
