Solar Panel Recycling 2026: Rates, Costs & Where to Recycle
Solar panels are ~90% recyclable, but the US recycles only about 10%. Here is the real recycling landscape — costs, companies, state laws, and what happens at end of life.
By The PVFig Editorial Team · 2026-08-10 · reviewed against EIA, NREL and DSIRE sources
The recycling reality
Panels are ~90% recyclable by weight (glass ~75%, aluminum frame, silicon, copper, silver), but the US recycles only ~10% of decommissioned panels — most go to landfill. Recycling costs $15–$45/panel vs $1–$5 to landfill, and recovered material is worth only $3–$12, so economics are the bottleneck. Costs have fallen ~42% in three years (Solar Power World).
Who recycles and where
Dedicated recyclers include SOLARCYCLE (opened a Georgia plant in 2026 recovering ~96% of material value, scaling toward 5 GW/year) and We Recycle Solar (Yuma, AZ). First Solar has run closed-loop recycling since 2005. Use the SEIA SolarRecycle locator, Earth911, or the DOE recycling map to find options.
State rules are growing
No federal law mandates recycling; panels are solid waste federally. Washington is the only state with a manufacturer-funded recycling mandate. California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and North Carolina regulate end-of-life panels through stewardship or universal-waste programs. If your installer removes a system, ask them to route panels to a recycler.
FAQ
Are solar panels recyclable?
Yes — about 90% by weight (glass, aluminum, silicon, copper, silver). The US currently recycles only ~10% because recycling costs more than landfilling.
How much does it cost to recycle a solar panel?
Roughly $15–$45 per panel, versus $1–$5 to landfill. Costs have fallen sharply and continue to drop as volume grows.
Do I have to recycle solar panels by law?
No federal mandate. Washington requires manufacturer-funded recycling; CA, HI, NJ, NC regulate end-of-life panels. Check your state.
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Sources
- U.S. EIA — electricity rates by state, eia.gov/electricity/monthly
- NREL PVWatts v8 — solar production by location, pvwatts.nrel.gov
- DSIRE — state incentives and net metering, dsireusa.org
- See how every figure on this page is calculated — PVFig methodology.
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