The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has unveiled Version 1.0 of its guidelines for the storage, handling, and transportation of solar photovoltaic (PV) waste, aligning with the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. The guidelines aim to ensure environmentally sound management of end-of-life solar modules, panels, and cells while safeguarding public health as India’s solar capacity continues to grow rapidly.
The rules apply to people who make, sell, or recycle solar waste, which includes glass, aluminium, silicon, plastics, and metals like lead and cadmium. CPCB emphasizes that such waste “must not be dumped in open areas or landfills due to the risk of toxic chemical release,” and must instead be channelled through registered recyclers or authorised entities.
Key provisions include:
- Producers and manufacturers need to set up ways for people to collect and return items, such as designated collection points and systems for reaching out to consumers.
- Transportation of solar waste should be in covered vehicles and comply with hazardous waste regulations where applicable.
- Storage must occur in covered, ventilated spaces with impervious flooring to prevent soil and groundwater contamination.
- Broken or damaged modules must be stored separately in labelled, water-resistant containers.
- Facilities are required to maintain inventory records, conduct monthly inspections, and ensure fire safety and emergency response systems.
- Personnel handling solar waste must use protective gear including gloves, safety footwear, and eye protection.
The CPCB highlighted, “Considering the leaching potential of metals such as antimony, cadmium, arsenic, lead, selenium, among others, the floor used for storage of Solar Waste shall be non-leachable, impervious to prevent contamination to the groundwater and soil.”
The guidelines are part of India’s broader effort to strengthen sustainable solar waste management and create a safer, environmentally responsible framework for the rapidly expanding solar sector. With these measures, authorities aim to protect human health, prevent soil and water pollution, and ensure that the country’s solar growth remains environmentally sustainable.
These rules make it clear how to safely handle, store, transport, and recycle solar waste. They make sure that India’s switch to solar energy doesn’t lower environmental or worker safety standards.
Electrify your feed! Click here to join our Whatsapp group and to get the latest updates, expert insights, and innovations driving India’s energy storage revolution.
