PV Waste & Legislation

Photovoltaic (PV) solar modules are designed to generate clean and renewable energy for over 25 to 30 years. As the first significant PV installations happened in the early 1990s, an increasing number of modules will reach the end of their life in the coming years.
High-volume recycling is still another 10-15 years away. Nevertheless, the PV industry has already been working in developing solutions across all stages of the product life cycle, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life take-back and recycling.
Since 13 August 2012, the recast WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive 2012/19/EU provides a legislative framework for extended producer responsibility of PV modules at European scale. As from 14 February 2014, the collection, transport and treatment (recycling) of photovoltaic panels is regulated in every single European Union (EU) country. For more information, consult the frequently asked questions on the recast WEEE Directive.

What is the WEEE Directive?

Originally launched in 2003, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) regulates the treatment of electrical and electronic waste at the end of their life cycle. The directive has been amended twice (“recasted”) in 2008 and 2012, resulting into an enlarged scope to include many new additional products. Photovoltaic (PV) panels were introduced in the latest revision of 2012.
WEEE set the fundamental legal rules and obligation for collecting and recycling photovoltaic panels in the European Union, including setting minimum collection and recovery targets. Up to this day, WEEE does not cover the disposal of solar thermal modules.