EPA Delays Rulemaking for Solar Waste

EPA has delayed its rulemaking process for producing guidance on how to handle solar panels after decommissioning. 

As the nation’s solar capacity continues to expand, federal regulators have yet to finalize a cohesive framework for managing end-of-life solar panels—leaving states, local governments, and the private sector to navigate a growing policy gap. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has discussed placing photovoltaic (PV) modules under a more flexible “universal waste” designation, which would simplify transport and encourage recycling, but that effort has been delayed. In the absence of federal direction, states have adopted a patchwork of requirements: some apply more stringent hazardous waste rules due to the presence of substances like lead or cadmium, while others have created tailored take-back, recycling, or manufacturer-responsibility programs. Many jurisdictions, however, still have no specific rules at all.

For Maryland counties, this emerging issue intersects directly with solid waste management, recycling infrastructure, and long-term planning for clean energy deployment. As early solar installations approach retirement and larger utility-scale projects come online, county governments may see increasing volumes of panels entering local waste streams—without consistent guidance for proper collection, transport, or ultimate disposition.

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Maryland’s energy landscape will be front and center at the 2025 MACo Winter Conference. The session, “Powering the Future: What Battery Storage Means for Maryland Counties,” will break down this evolving technology and its potential impact on county operations and residents.

MACo’s Winter Conference, “Local Leadership, Lasting Impact: Shaping What’s Next,” will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, MD, on December 10-12, 2024.

Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference: