CPCB Asks Module Makers To Ensure ‘Taking-Back’ Solar Waste

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has released draft guidelines for the storage and handling of solar waste. The proposed framework falls under the provisions of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, and aims to regulate solar waste in a manner that safeguards human health and the environment.

The government, earlier, had categorised ‘solar waste’ under the e-waste category, but separate dedicated guidelines for government solar waste collection, disposition and recycling were lacking on the site. The solar industry had been awaiting for a regulatory framework where the liabilities of different stakeholders could be fixed.

Draft Norms Of CPCB

The guidelines apply to producers, manufacturers, and recyclers of solar PV components and outline responsibilities for ensuring the environmentally sound management of discarded or end-of-life solar equipment. Public comments on the draft are invited until June 25, 2025, and can be submitted via email to wm3.cpcb@nic.in or youthika.cpcb@nic.in.

According to the CPCB, solar waste—comprising used or damaged modules, cells, components, and spares—must never be disposed of in open areas or sold to unauthorized entities, as improper disposal could release hazardous chemicals into the environment. Instead, producers and manufacturers are required to assess their storage needs and implement collection mechanisms that facilitate take-back from consumers or bulk consumers.

‘Take-Back Mechanism

Manufacturers must publicize their collection systems, including details of designated collection points and take-back schemes implemented through dealers. They are also encouraged to provide website links detailing their take-back system, contact details for responsible personnel, and information about authorized recycling facilities. Pick-up vans connected to collection centers may also be part of the collection network.

For any waste sent for final disposal, the draft directs stakeholders to comply with the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.

Storage Practices

The guidelines also detail procedures for the safe storage and handling of solar waste. Panels, modules, and cells must be stored in a manner that prevents breakage and ensures worker safety. Sharp object contact or collisions that could damage internal components must be avoided. Furthermore, storage practices should preserve the potential for reuse, refurbishment, recycling, or material recovery, while minimizing environmental and health risks.

Storage areas must be covered, dry, and well-ventilated, with impervious, non-leachable flooring to prevent soil and groundwater contamination by substances such as cadmium, arsenic, lead, selenium, and antimony. Stacking should be limited to 20 layers or a height of two meters—whichever is lower—to prevent structural stress.

Proper labeling mandated

Facilities handling solar PV waste must be equipped with fire protection systems, clearly marked emergency exits, and an Emergency Response Plan (ERP). Containers and storage racks must be labeled according to waste type to ease identification during the recycling process. Regular inspections should be carried out and documented, and inventory records for stored waste should be updated periodically.

As per CPCB’s recommendations, the minimum required storage space for solar PV e-waste—classified under Category 14 by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)—should be at least 19.5 cubic meters per tonne.

The guidelines mark a critical step toward formalizing end-of-life management for India’s growing stockpile of solar equipment and emphasize extended producer responsibility in alignment with global e-waste norms.