Household Hazardous Waste
This item should never be put in a curbside bin. For more information visit our household hazardous waste page.
Solar Panels - Working
Photovoltaic devices that convert the sunlight into electricity or heat.
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.
Vendors
| Vendor | Address | City | Destination | Disposal Method | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRS (Solarsilicon Reycling Services) | 2433 Eastman Ave | Ventura | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee | Large/commercial quantity. ignot & ignot production 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. | |
| San Francisco Recycling | South San Francisco | Recycle | Pick-up for a Fee | accepts solar panels including functional/working, non-working, broken panels, and aluminum frames. Panels are refurbished, and non-working and replaced parts are recycled when possible. $40/panel No wires cut, no cracks or burn marks, frames intact, 170 watts+ . Min trip fee $45-65 per trip applied depending on quantity & location. | ||
| Bay Area Electronics Recycling Center (Union City) | 33548 Central Ave | Union City | Recycle | Drop-off for a Fee, Pick-up for a Fee | 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 | |
| Solar Recycling Company Directory (ENF) | Oakland | Recycle | Free Mail-in | Online listing of companies providing recycling | ||
| 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. | |
| PV Recycling | 2212 North 23rd Avenue | Phoenix | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | Commercial quantity | |
| Surplus Service | 3090 Osgood Ct | Fremont | Reuse | Pick-up for a Fee | ||
| Recycle1234: E-Waste & Solar Panel Recycling Center | 33548 Central Ave | Union City | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee | Drop off fee of $35 per working or non-working PV module for refurbishing or recycling. | |
| 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. | |
| San Francisco Recycling | South San Francisco | Reuse | Pick-up for a Fee | accepts solar panels including functional/working, non-working, broken panels, and aluminum frames. Panels are refurbished, and non-working and replaced parts are recycled when possible. $40/panel No wires cut, no cracks or burn marks, frames intact, 170 watts+ . Min trip fee $45-65 per trip applied depending on quantity & location. | ||
| 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. | |
| First Solar |
350 West Washington St Suite 600 |
Tempe | Reuse | Pick-up for a Fee | large quantities | |
| Jinko Solar (US) |
595 Market St Suite 2200 |
San Francisco | Reuse | Pick-up for a Fee | Commercial quantity | |
| Metal & Catalyst Resources |
1513 West Dallas St Suite 200 |
Houston | Reuse | Drop-off for a Fee |
