Can solar panels be recycled?

Quick facts about solar recycling

Solar panels ARE recyclable, though the process is complex
UK law requires solar panel recycling — landfill disposal is prohibited
Recycling costs £15-£45 per panel vs £1-£5 for landfill
90% of panels still end up in landfill globally
Recovered materials could be worth $2 billion by 2050

Are solar panels recyclable?

Solar panels feature complex construction with multiple fused components, making them notoriously difficult to disassemble. However, they are recyclable through processes designed to separate glass, plastic, and metals into component parts.

How are solar panels recycled?

The recycling industry remains nascent, with different companies developing unique separation processes. However, all facilities broadly follow similar steps using automated machinery.

Panel construction

Solar panels employ a sandwich structure: silicon crystal cells in the middle, covered by glass and plastic front layers with plastic backing, held by an aluminum frame. Most panels use silver conductors and copper wiring.

The recycling process reverses panel construction:

✓ Remove junction box from rear
✓ Strip aluminum frame automatically
✓ Separate glass (through smashing, heating, or melting adhesive)
✓ Crush glass into fine powder for resale
✓ Shred solar sheet and remaining glass
✓ Break down shredded material into powder containing copper, aluminum, tin, silicon, and silver

Film-based and silicon panels require slightly different approaches — silicon panels use acid separation while film panels use rotating screws.

New recycling technology

The solar recycling market is relatively young since early panels installed 25 years ago are only now reaching end-of-life. This created a lag between production and recycling infrastructure, though innovation is accelerating.

Emerging technologies include microwave-based material separation developed by Australian researchers, potentially reducing costs and improving efficiency as demand increases.

Can solar panels be recycled in the UK?

UK legal requirements

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive regulates solar panel disposal in the UK, prohibiting landfill disposal due to environmental hazards and valuable material content. Solar recycling is legally required.

Both silicon and film-based panels are recycled nationwide through disposal companies in London, Birmingham, Hereford, Sheffield, and Leeds, offering national collection services.

Manufacturers and importers bear legal responsibility for end-of-life disposal. Many installers provide take-back services. Panels can be self-removed to drop-off points or collected professionally.

Major UK recycling services include:

Recycle Solar
Solar Recycling Solutions (SRS)
Collect and Recycle
PV Cycle UK
Waste Experts
Start Solar
Trust Solar Wholesale Ltd
Waxman Energy Ltd
Wind & Sun Ltd

How long should solar panels last?

Panel lifespan depends on acceptable efficiency thresholds. Standard metrics quote 25-30 year life expectancies.

Standard panels

• ~1% annual degradation
• 75% capacity after 25 years
• Lower upfront cost

Modern panels

• ~0.6% annual degradation
• 82.5% capacity after 25 years
• Better long-term value

Some evidence suggests efficiency declines follow a falling curve — rapid initial decline (1.5-1.8%) slowing over time, potentially enabling 25% operation after a century.

What is the cost of recycling solar PV?

Consumers face no recycling costs. However, manufacturers and installers bear responsibility for safe end-of-life disposal.

Who pays?

Manufacturers are primarily responsible and must cover removal and recycling expenses. When installers replace old panels, they should offer take-back schemes covering removal and transportation to certified facilities.

If no replacement occurs, manufacturers handle disposal and the installer isn't responsible. Even with installer take-back schemes, manufacturers remain ultimately accountable and can claim costs through Producer Compliance Schemes (PCS).

Economic cost

Recycling

• $15-$45 per module
• Complex processing required
• Limited material value recovery
• Environmentally responsible

Landfill

• $1.38-$5.00 per module
• Simple disposal
• No material recovery
• Environmentally harmful

Paris-based ROSI has developed processes recovering high-value materials (silicon, silver, copper) at lower cost and impact, producing purer silicon than metallurgical-grade. The value of solar panel materials is predicted at $2 billion by 2050.

Environmental cost

12x

Less CO2 than natural gas

Solar energy generates significantly lower emissions than fossil fuels

Every recycled solar panel saves approximately 97 pounds (44kg) of CO2, according to SolarCycle, increasing to 1.5 tonnes if reused.

Recycling aluminum consumes 95% less energy than producing new aluminum, demonstrating material reuse efficiency.

Can solar panels be reused and refurbished?

Beyond recycling, older panels can be reused and refurbished. While less efficient than new panels, second-hand PV offers cheaper alternatives.

Businesses frequently replace functioning panels before end-of-life due to efficiency improvements making replacement cost-effective. Earlier-replaced panels operate at relatively high efficiency levels, making them attractive despite reduced pricing.

Refurbished panels

• $0.05-$0.15 per watt
• Lower efficiency
• Budget-friendly option
• Supports circular economy

New panels

• $0.50 per watt
• Maximum efficiency
• Premium pricing
• Latest technology

The future of solar waste management

Current reality

Currently, 90% of solar panels still end up in landfill, with just 10% getting recycled. As the solar industry expands globally, efficient, cost-effective recycling becomes essential.

Solar panels are recyclable and legally mandated for UK recycling. However, current processes remain inefficient and uneconomical. Recycling technology advances continue emerging, though deployment at scale requires time.

The substantial value in panel raw materials provides future economic incentive once extraction processes improve. For prospective panel buyers, the industry trends positively — recycling infrastructure will likely be established before panel end-of-life occurs.