Household Hazardous Waste
This item should never be put in a curbside bin. For more information visit our household hazardous waste page.
Photovoltaic devices that convert the sunlight into electricity or heat.
This item should never be put in a curbside bin. For more information visit our household hazardous waste page.
Problem with your solar panels? Contact your installer or service provider for repair options. If the panels need to be replaced but still operate, donate for reuse or contact a reseller (ex. Habitat for Humanity). In California, DTSC lists approved Solar Panel Recyclers. Most recyclers only accept from large private companies or government contracts - not from consumers. Solar Panel Handlers consolidate and then send them to recyclers. Many panels don't make it to recyclers due to the cost to recycle per panel; panels are most often transported to other states for recycling.
The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC - choose Solar under Products) holds the most current links to policy, studies, and articles on solar panels. Considering solar? PG&E's Residential Guide to Solar Installation. Solar Permitting Guidebook (4th Edition). The California Energy Commission maintains a list of PV modules available by manufacturer and model number, and includes the hazardous content.
Vendor | Address | City | Destination | Disposal Method | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Urban Ore | 900 Murray St. | Berkeley | Reuse | Free Drop-off, Buyback Drop-off | Call first. Only in reuse condition. Inverters and racking as well. Buyback based on watts and brand. | |
Surplus Service | 3090 Osgood Ct | Fremont | Reuse | Paid Pick-up | ||
Metal & Catalyst Resources |
1513 West Dallas St Suite 200 |
Houston | Reuse | Paid Drop-off | ||
Solar Recycling Company Directory (ENF) | Oakland | Recycle | Free Mail-in | Online listing of companies providing recycling | ||
PV Recycling | 2212 North 23rd Avenue | Phoenix | Reuse | Paid Drop-off | ||
Jinko Solar (US) |
595 Market St Suite 2200 |
San Francisco | Reuse | Paid Pick-up | Commercial quantity | |
First Solar |
350 West Washington St Suite 600 |
Tempe | Reuse | Paid Pick-up | large quantities | |
Bay Area Electronics Recycling Center (Union City) | 33548 Central Ave | Union City | Recycle | Paid Drop-off, Paid Pick-up | Call first. Flat recycling, refurbishment & processing fee. $25/panel (up to 65lbs). No thin film units. $125/hr pick up fee or drop-off to UC Warehouse | |
Recycle1234: E-Waste & Solar Panel Recycling Center | 33548 Central Ave | Union City | Reuse | Free Drop-off | Panels accepted that are less than 10yrs old and over 300 watts | |
SRS (Solarsilicon Reycling Services) | 2433 Eastman Ave | Ventura | Recycle | Paid Drop-off | Large/commercial quantity. ignot & ignot production equipment | |
SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Assn.) |
600 14th Street, NW Suite 400 |
Washington DC | Reuse | Free Mail-in | Online info. The National PV Recycling Program, founded in 2016, is a network of recycling and refurbishment providers that can provide end-of-life management services to solar and storage installers, project and system owners, developers, distributors and other parties. These organizations are capable of providing repair, refurbish, resale, and recycling services for PV modules, inverters and other solar equipment. | |
SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Assn.) |
600 14th Street, NW Suite 400 |
Washington DC | Repair | Free Mail-in | Online info. The National PV Recycling Program, founded in 2016, is a network of recycling and refurbishment providers that can provide end-of-life management services to solar and storage installers, project and system owners, developers, distributors and other parties. These organizations are capable of providing repair, refurbish, resale, and recycling services for PV modules, inverters and other solar equipment. | |
SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Assn.) |
600 14th Street, NW Suite 400 |
Washington DC | Recycle | Free Mail-in | Online info. The National PV Recycling Program, founded in 2016, is a network of recycling and refurbishment providers that can provide end-of-life management services to solar and storage installers, project and system owners, developers, distributors and other parties. These organizations are capable of providing repair, refurbish, resale, and recycling services for PV modules, inverters and other solar equipment. |
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