How to Dispose of Solar Panels

Unwanted solar panels have items that can be collected by the city and items that cannot be collected.
Please check the following information and take appropriate action.

Items that can be collected by the city

Independent Solar Panels

• Portable types that can be used for leisure or during disasters, as well as small ones that can be installed in gardens or on balconies.

(Examples) Foldable solar panels, solar panels for garden solar lights, etc.

Garbage Classification

Classification is based on the size of the solar panel when deployed.

• Those with a long side less than 50cm and weight less than 5kg when deployed ⇒ Non-burnable garbage: Please put it in the designated garbage bag and dispose of it.
• Those with a long side 50cm or more or weight 5kg or more when deployed ⇒ Bulky waste: Please make a reservation for bulky waste collection before disposing of it.

Disposal Methods and Precautions

(1) Please dispose of the solar panels after properly treating them so that light does not hit the light-receiving surface.
　If the disposed solar panels generate electricity, there is a risk of unexpected accidents.
・Foldable type... Fold the panel and secure it with tape or similar so that it does not open.
・Other ... Wrap the parts including the light-receiving surface with paper, cloth, etc. to block the light, and label the outside as "Solar Panel".

(2) For solar panels with batteries connected or built-in, please remove the batteries from the panel.
　Please dispose of the removed batteries on the designated "Hazardous Waste" collection day. However, some types of batteries, such as lead-acid batteries, may not be collected or processed by the city, so please check carefully.

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Items that cannot be collected by the city

1. Those installed on roofs or on the ground
2. Those integrated with buildings
3. Concentrated type
4. Those with built-in or connected rechargeable batteries

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(Reference) Types and Characteristics of Solar Power Generation Equipment Installation

Type of Installation	Features
Roof-mounted type	Type installed on roofs of houses and buildings.
Ground-mounted type	Type installed on flat land. Mega solar is a representative example.
Building-Integrated Type	Type in which solar cell modules are integrated with roofing materials or exterior wall materials of houses and buildings.
Concentrator Type	Solar power generation equipment that concentrates light onto a small area of high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells using lenses or mirrors.
Independent Type	A small (portable) solar power generation kit that can be installed on balconies, etc.

^{Source: Created based on the "Guidelines for Promoting the Recycling of Solar Power Generation Equipment (Third Edition) (Ministry of the Environment)"}

 

^{Source: Decokatsu Website (https://ondankataisaku.env.go.jp/decokatsu/)}

^{Source: "Renewable Energy White Paper (2nd Edition)" (NEDO)}
 

^{Source: "Renewable Energy White Paper (2nd Edition)" (NEDO)}
 

^{Source: "Renewable Energy White Paper (2nd Edition)" (NEDO)}

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(Reference) Positioning of Used Solar Cell Modules under Waste Disposal Laws

Examples Corresponding to Industrial Waste	In cases where solar cell module manufacturers, construction contractors, Business Operators, or reuse businesses dispose of defective used solar cell modules as waste. In cases where owners (Business Operators, homeowners) request dismantling and removal contractors to dismantle and remove used solar cell modules and process them as waste, etc.
Examples Corresponding to General Waste	In cases where standalone solar cell modules, etc., are disposed of from general households without involving business activities such as dismantling or removal work.

^{Source: "Guidelines for Promoting the Recycling of Photovoltaic Power Generation Equipment (Third Edition)" (Ministry of the Environment)}

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(Reference) Materials Regarding the Disposal of Solar Panels Classified as Industrial Waste

• For those considering disposal of residential solar power generation systems (Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association/JPEA webpage)(external link)
• Q&A on solar panel installation (Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Bureau) [PDF 5,820KB](external link)
• Guidelines for Promoting the Recycling of Solar Power Generation Equipment <Third Edition> (Ministry of the Environment) [PDF 3,022KB](external link)

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