Eight US States Introduce Solar Panel Recycling Mandates Modeled on EU WEEE Directive

Eight US states — California, Washington, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, Oregon, Minnesota, and New Jersey — have introduced legislation in early 2026 requiring solar panel manufacturers and importers to fund and operate end-of-life recycling programs, closely modeled on the EU's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. California's bill, SB 914, is the most advanced, having passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee in February 2026. Under SB 914, manufacturers would be required to register with CalRecycle, fund a producer responsibility organization, and guarantee free panel take-back for residential customers within 200 miles of a certified recycling facility by 2028. Silicon in crystalline panels is 90%+ recoverable; silver, present at roughly 15–20 mg per watt, is the highest-value recovered material. Glass constitutes approximately 76% of panel weight and requires specialized separation from the ethylene-vinyl acetate encapsulant for reuse. The Solar Energy Industries Association supports extended producer responsibility frameworks in principle but has raised concerns about implementation timelines and potential small-manufacturer exemption thresholds. No federal recycling mandate exists for solar panels, though the EPA published voluntary guidance in 2025. An estimated 3–5 GW worth of first-generation panels installed in 2005–2012 will reach end-of-life by 2030, making policy frameworks increasingly urgent.