Central Pollution Control Board Issues Draft Guidelines for Storage and Handling of Solar Waste
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has released draft guidelines for the safe storage and handling of waste solar photovoltaic modules, panels, or cells, inviting stakeholder feedback by June 25, 2025.
June 11, 2025. By Mrinmoy Dey
The management of solar photovoltaic modules and cells is covered under Chapter V of the E-Waste (Management), Rules, 2022. It puts the onus of managing solar waste on the manufacturers/producers of solar components including the storing of waste solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells up to the year 2034-35.
“The new draft guidelines are intended to provide technical guidance to transport, handle and store the waste generated from Solar photovoltaic panels or modules or cells including their components, consumables, parts and spares 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 cells,” noted the draft guidelines.
Here, solar waste refers to end-of-life solar photovoltaic 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 glass, aluminium frames, silicon wafers, metals (copper, silver, lead, cadmium, tellurium, gallium, arsenic and tin) and plastics.
The draft guidelines specify that after assessing the requirement of storage, producers and manufacturers must devise a collection mechanism from consumer/bulk consumer which may include take-back through different stakeholders. Additionally, they must publicise their collection system which may include details of their collection points for the collection of waste solar waste, and take-back schemes implemented through dealers, if any.
It also mandates the transportation of solar waste in covered trucks, preferably in trucks authorised for the transportation of hazardous wastes. According to the guidelines, solar waste must not be disposed of or dumped in open areas, as it may release toxic chemicals into the environment. It must not also be sold to unauthorised entities.
On the storage of solar waste, the draft mentioned, “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. Avoid sharp object contact or collision with solar waste so as not to damage the internal module.”
Storage of solar waste must 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, the environment and to the product itself.
“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. Considering the leaching potential of metals such as antimony, cadmium, arsenic, lead, and selenium, among others, the floor used for storage of solar waste should be non-leachable, impervious to prevent contamination to the groundwater and soil,” it said.
Solar panels should be stacked in no more than 20 layers or up to a maximum height of 2 meters above the ground, whichever is lower. The storage area must be equipped with a fire protection system, including adequate firefighting arrangements, clearly marked emergency exits and an emergency response plan.
All storage racks or containers should be clearly labelled with the type of waste they contain to ensure easy identification and sorting during the recycling process. Regular inventory checks must be carried out for stored solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, panels, or cells to maintain accurate records.
The storage area should also be periodically inspected, and any findings of damage should be documented. Additionally, for storing solar PV modules, panels, or cells categorised under e-waste (CEEW 14), a minimum space of 19.5 cubic meters per tonne is required.
please contact: contact@energetica-india.net.
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