Executive Summary:
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has prepared draft guidelines for the storage and handling of waste solar photovoltaic modules, panels, or cells, as per the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022. These guidelines provide technical guidance to protect health and the environment during transportation, handling, and storage of solar waste. Comments and suggestions on the draft are requested by June 25th, 2025, for finalization of the guidelines.
Key Points / Main Content:
Background and Scope:
* The guidelines are based on the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022, effective from April 1, 2023, which aim to manage e-waste, including solar photovoltaic modules, in an environmentally sound manner.
* E-waste recycling targets are not applicable for waste generated from solar photovoltaic modules.
* Chapter V of the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022 covers the management of solar photovoltaic modules, assigning responsibilities to manufacturers, producers, and recyclers.
* The guidelines apply to producers, manufacturers, and recyclers of solar photovoltaic panels or modules or cells.
Environmental Concerns and Benefits:
* Improper disposal of solar panels can lead to heavy metal contamination, air pollution, and adverse health impacts.
* Sustainable recycling prevents environmental damage and allows for the recovery of materials that can be reused, conserving resources.
Composition of Solar Waste:
* Solar waste includes end-of-life solar photovoltaic modules, panels, or cells, rejects and waste from manufacturing, refurbishment, and repair processes, and damaged panels.
* Solar panels contain recyclable (glass, aluminum frame, silicon wafers, copper) and non-recyclable materials (plastics, silver, lead, cadmium, tellurium, gallium, arsenic and tin).
Transportation, Handling, and Storage Guidelines:
* Solar waste should never be disposed of in the open or sold to unauthorized entities.
* Producers and manufacturers should devise a collection mechanism from consumers, including take-back programs.
* Collection systems should be publicized, including details of collection points and take-back schemes.
* Transportation should be done in covered trucks, preferably authorized for hazardous waste transportation.
* Provisions under the Hazardous and Other Wastes Management Rules, 2016, should be followed for final disposal.
* Storage should prevent breakage and be safe for workers.
* Avoid contact with sharp objects.
* Storage should not affect reuse or recycling potential and should not damage health or the environment.
* Covered spaces should be used, with a dry and well-ventilated environment.
* Floors should be non-leachable and impervious to prevent contamination.
* Panels should be stacked to a maximum height of 2 meters or 20 layers, whichever is less.
* The storage area should have fire protection, an emergency exit, and an emergency response plan.
* Containers should be labeled, and inventory should be maintained.
* Periodic inspections and records are required to check for any damage.
* Minimum storage space should be at least 19.5 m3/tonne.
Impact Analysis:
Producers and Manufacturers:
* Impact: Required to establish and publicize collection mechanisms, ensure proper transportation and storage, and comply with the guidelines.
* Action Required: Develop collection systems, publicize collection details, ensure safe transportation and storage, and maintain records.
Recyclers:
* Impact: Must ensure environmentally sound handling and processing of solar waste and comply with storage guidelines.
* Action Required: Implement safe handling and recycling processes, ensure proper storage conditions, and comply with inventory and labeling requirements.
Consumers/Bulk Consumers:
* Impact: Need to participate in take-back programs and ensure proper disposal of solar waste.
* Action Required: Utilize take-back systems, deposit solar waste at designated collection points, and follow producer guidelines.
Key Entities Referenced
E-Waste Management Rules, 2022: A set of regulations in India governing the management of electronic waste, including solar photovoltaic modules, panels, or cells.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): An organization in India responsible for preparing draft guidelines for the storage and handling of waste solar photovoltaic modules, panels, or cells.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry that notified the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022.
Solar Photovoltaic Modules or Panels or Cells: The specific type of electronic waste that these guidelines address.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): A principle where producers are responsible for the environmental impact of their products throughout their lifecycle, particularly in the context of e-waste management.
Waste Management-III Division: The division of CPCB responsible for waste management, as indicated by the contact information provided.
East Arjun Nagar, Delhi: Location of Parivesh Bhawan, which houses the CPCB office, in Delhi.
Hazardous and Other Wastes Management and Transboundary Movement Rules, 2016: Indian regulation to be followed while transporting solar waste destined for final disposal.
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CPCB Environment MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST & CLIMATE CHANGE, GOVT. OF INDIA.
F.No. CP-22/1/2025-WM-II|-HO-CPCB-HO 4'n June, 2025
NOTICE
Subject: Inviting comments/Suggestions on the Guidelines for Storage and Handling
of Waste Solar Photo-Voltaic Modules or Panels or Cells
As per the provisions under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, CPCB has
prepared a draft guideline for storage and handling of waste solar photo-voltaic modules or
panels or cells. The same is available on https://cpcb.nic.in/comment-report1 php.
It is requested that comments/suggestions if any, map please be communicated by
25th June, 2025 at wm3.cpcb@nic.in or youthika.cocb@nic.in for finalization of the said
guidelines.
Youthika)
Divisional Head
Waste Management-lll Division
‘uRast waa’ Yat sat =A, feeeit - 110032.
Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi - 110 032.
GNHTY /Tel : 43102030, 22305792, dqUlgc/Website: www.cpcb.nic.inDraft Guidelines for Storage and Handling of solar photo-voltaic modules, panels or cells waste under E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 .
Draft Guidelines for Storage and Handling of
Waste Solar Photo-Voltaic Modules or Panels
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E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022Draft Guidelines for Storage and Handling of solar photo-voltaic modules, panels or cells waste under E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022
Table of Contents
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3. Environmental Concerns of Improper disposal and benefits of Sustainable Solar Panel
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5. Guidelines for Transportation, handling and Storage of Solar photo-voltaic modules, panelsDraft Guidelines for Storage and Handling of solar photo-voltaic modules, panels or cells waste under E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022
1. Background:
The management of E-Waste in India is presently regulated under E-Waste (Management)
Rules, 2022. The Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change, Government of India,
has notified E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 for the effective management of the E-
Waste in the country, and are effective from 01.04.2023. The overall objective of the E-Waste
(Management) Rules, 2022 is to take all steps necessary to ensure that E-Waste is managed
in a manner which shall protect health and environment against any adverse effects, which
may result from such E-Waste.
The rules encompass the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (EEE),
including their components, consumables, parts and spares including solar photo-voltaic
modules or panels or cells, whole or in part discarded as waste, as well as rejects from
manufacturing, refurbishment and repair processes. Accordingly, the rule describes a total of
106 categories of electrical and electronic equipment including solar photovoltaic
panels/cells/modules, (As described in Schedule-| of the rules) which has been categorized
as CEEW 14 in terms of EEE Code.
The management of E-Waste is presently regulated through the principle of Extended
Producer Responsibility (EPR), where all producers have given recycling targets as per
Schedule-Ill and Schedule-lV of the rules, which can be met only through purchase of EPR
certificates through registered recyclers of e-waste to ensure environmentally sound
management of such waste. However, as per the provisions under the aforesaid rules, E-
Waste recycling targets shall not be applicable for waste generated from solar photo-voltaic
modules or panels or cells.
The management of solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells are covered under the
Chapter V of the E-Waste (Management), Rules, 2022, where the manufacturers, producers
and the recyclers of solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells have been assigned
responsibilities to ensure the compliance with the said rules through registration, storing the
waste solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells up to the year 2034-35, filing annual
returns on the portal, and ensuring compliances with the guidelines and standard operating
procedure (SOP) laid down by CPCB.
2. Objective and Scope of the Guidelines
These guidelines are intended to provide technical guidance to transport, handle and store
the waste generated from Solar photo-voltaic panels or modules or cells including their
components, consumables, parts and spares (hereinafter will be referred as Solar Waste) in
an environmentally sound manner which shall protect the health and environment. The
guidelines shall be applicable to the producers, manufacturers and recyclers of solar photo-
voltaic panels or modules or cell.Draft Guidelines for Storage and Handling of solar photo-voltaic modules, panels or cells waste under E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022
3. Environmental Concerns of Improper disposal and benefits of Sustainable Solar
Panel recycling
The exponential growth of solar energy installations is crucial for a sustainable future,
however presents a significant challenge in management of end-of-life solar photovoltaic (PV)
modules. Improper disposal of these panels may have following environmental risks, while
sustainable recycling offers a multitude of benefits:
e Heavy metal contamination: Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, etc. may contaminate soil/leach
into water bodies.
e Air Pollution: Burning of such waste in unscientific manner can release toxic fumes into
the environmental.
¢ Health concerns: Handling of such waste in an unscientific manner may cause adverse
health impact.
However, scientific and proper recycling of such waste prevent from damage to environment
and can generate substantial amount of recovered material which can be further used as raw
material thus reducing the need to extract new raw material conserving the energy and earth's
resources.
4. General Average Composition of the Solar Panels
Solar Waste refers end-of-life solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells, whole or in part
discarded as waste, rejects and waste generated from manufacturing, refurbishment and
repair process and solar panels damaged during their transportation, handling, storage and
installation. Solar panels consist of recyclable and non-recyclable materials such as:
1. Glass
2. Aluminum frame
3. Silicon wafers
4. Metals (copper, silver, lead, cadmium, tellurium, gallium, arsenic and tin)
5. Plastics
5. Guidelines for Transportation, handling and Storage of Solar photo-voltaic modules,
panels or cells waste:
The collection and transportation of solar waste is to be done in the following
manner:
14. It shall be ensured that solar waste shall never be disposed of or dumped in open area, as
it may release toxic chemicals into the environment, and it shall never be sold to unauthorized
entities.Draft Guidelines for Storage and Handling of solar photo-voltaic modules, panels or cells waste under E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022
2. After assessing the requirement of storage, producers and manufacturers shall devise a
collection mechanism from consumer/bulk consumer which may include take-back through
different stakeholders.
3. Producers and manufacturers shall publicize their collection system which may include
details of their collection points for the collection of waste solar waste, take-back schemes
implemented through dealers, if any.
4. Producers and manufactures may provide consumer/ bulk consumer following details of
their take-back system:
a. Link of their web site where information pertaining to take-back system is available.
b. Contact number of a designated person for handling queries regarding the take-back
system and grievance support.
c. Details of their collection system including, collection points/pick up vans linked to
collection centres for depositing solar waste.
d. Details of authorized recycling facilities who can take-back solar waste.
e. Producers may maintain a database of consumers/bulk consumers and their site
details while selling solar panels or modules or cells so that consumers/ bulk consumers
can be approached for collection of solar waste.
5. Transportation of solar waste should be done in covered trucks, preferably in trucks
authorized for transportation of hazardous wastes.
6. While transporting solar waste destined for final disposal the sender should follow the
provisions under Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement)
Rules, 2016.
The storage and handling of waste solar panels, cells or modules is to be done in the
following manner:
1. Storage of solar waste may be done in a manner which does not lead to breakage of the
waste collected and is safe to workers handling such products.
2. Avoid sharp objects contact or collision with solar waste so as not to damage the internal
module.
3. Storage of waste solar photo-voltaic modules, panels or cells should be carried out in such
a way that its end use such as re-use after refurbishing or recycling/recovery is unaffected
and there should not be any damage to health, environment and to the product itself.
4. Covered shed/spaces have to be used for storage of solar waste. The solar waste should
be placed in a dry environment and a well ventilated area.
5. Considering the leaching potential of metals such as antimony, cadmium, arsenic, lead,
selenium, among others, the floor used for storage of waste solar photo-voltaic modules,
3)Draft Guidelines for Storage and Handling of solar photo-voltaic modules, panels or cells waste under E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022
panels or cells should be non-leachable, impervious to prevent contamination to the
ground water and soil.
The panels should be stocked in not more than 20 layers or to a maximum height of 2
meters above the ground, whichever Is less.
The storage area should have fire protection system with adequate firefighting
arrangement, escape route for emergency exit, ERP- Emergency response plan in place.
Storage racks or containers should be clearly labelled with the type of waste they contain
to help in easy identification and sorting during recycling processes.
Inventorization should be done for the stored waste solar photo-voltaic modules, panels or
cells from time to time to maintain the records.
10. The storage area should be periodically inspected and recorded to check for any damage.
11. Space needed for storage of Solar photo-voltaic modules, panels or cells (CEEW 14)
category of e-waste should be at least 19.5 m3/tonne.
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