Can Old Solar Panels Go Out With Regular Trash?
Summary
Some can and some cannot. EPA says panels of the same model from the same manufacturer can land on either side of the hazardous-waste line, and it puts the determination on whoever discards them. As of September 2026, solar panels are not a federal universal waste, and EPA is still preparing a proposal to add them. Homeowners are told to contact their installer or their state and local environmental agencies.
Why a panel can count as hazardous
The most common reason, according to EPA, is lead or cadmium leaching above the regulatory limit in the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). For lead, the limit is 5.0 mg/L, waste code D008. End-of-life testing has turned up panels that pass and panels that fail. A working panel reused directly in another application without reclamation is not a solid waste at all.
State programs
| State | Program on EPA's list |
|---|---|
| California | state universal waste for PV modules |
| Hawaii | state universal waste for solar panels |
| New Jersey | Solar Panel Recycling Commission |
| North Carolina | a state report on regulating the management and decommissioning of renewable energy equipment |
| Washington | Photovoltaic Module Stewardship and Takeback Program |
EPA notes that the list is not comprehensive.
Washington's program comes from a 2017 law requiring manufacturers to take back and recycle modules bought after July 1, 2017, at no cost to the owner. The deadline for manufacturers to hold an Ecology-approved plan has since moved from July 1, 2025, to January 31, 2031, and the Department of Ecology says some manufacturers have stopped selling panels in the state.
The federal timetable
EPA says adding panels to the universal waste rules would give a clear, practical system for handling discarded panels. It announced on October 23, 2023, that it would write a rule on end-of-life solar panels. Its page updated July 31, 2026, still says the agency is planning to propose it. The Fall 2023 regulatory agenda had listed a proposal for June 2025 and a final rule for December 2026.
EPA cites a 2016 IRENA estimate that the United States could have as much as one million tons of solar panel waste by 2030 and as many as 10 million tons by 2050.
Sources
- U.S. EPA — End-of-Life Solar Panels: Regulations and Management (updated 2026-07-31)
- U.S. EPA — Solar Panel Frequent Questions (updated 2026-09-18)
- U.S. EPA — Improving Recycling and Management of Renewable Energy Wastes (updated 2026-07-31)
- Reginfo.gov — RIN 2050-AH32 (Fall 2023 Unified Agenda)
- Washington State Department of Ecology — Solar panels
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