The Department of Ecology (Department) oversees the Photovoltaic Module Stewardship and Takeback Program (Program). Under the Program, manufacturers implement a self-directed program to ensure the convenient, safe, and environmentally sound takeback and recycling of photovoltaic modules and their components and materials.
Each manufacturer must prepare and submit a stewardship plan to the Department by the later of July 1, 2022, or within 30 days of its first sale of a photovoltaic module in or into the state. The stewardship plan must:
Beginning April 1, 2024, and by April 1 in each subsequent year, each manufacturer, or its designated stewardship organization, must provide to the Department a report for the previous calendar year that documents implementation of the plan and assesses the achievement of performance goals outlined in the stewardship plan.
Beginning July 1, 2023, no manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or installer may sell or offer for sale a photovoltaic module in or into the state unless the manufacturer of the photovoltaic module has submitted to the Department a stewardship plan and received plan approval.
Each manufacturer must prepare and submit a stewardship plan by the later of July 1, 2024, or within 30 days of its first sale of a photovoltaic module in or into the state.
Beginning April 1, 2026, and by April 1 in each subsequent year, each manufacturer, or its designated stewardship organization, must provide to the Department a report for the previous calendar year that documents implementation of the plan and assesses the achievement of performance goals outlined in the stewardship plan.
Beginning July 1, 2025, no manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or installer may sell or offer for sale a photovoltaic module in or into the state unless the manufacturer of the photovoltaic module has submitted to the Department a stewardship plan and received plan approval.
(In support) The solar panel manufacturing industry needs more time before the stewardship plan can go into effect. This time will be well-used because solar panels are not currently coming off of roofs in great numbers. Solar panels have approximately a 35-year life span with a bathtub curve: panels tend to either fail right away or last the full 35 years. Right now, there is not yet a huge need to recycle and it is important to be ready with a thoughtful program that is mindful of the needs of manufacturers. The manufacturers were on the path for establishing mindful stewardship plans last year, but then COVID-19 hit. A previous bill had included a modest appropriation for a stakeholder work group through Washington State University. However, this funding was removed. Without this funding, manufacturers and associations needed to find ad hoc data to put together a good program and looked to private associations for assistance.
(Opposed) None.
(Other) There is no national tracking of solar panels and no sufficient studies to understand if solar panels can be reused or repurposed for alternative uses not associated with their original use. There is a growing concern that these panels will pile up. Instead of a 35-year life span, panels are commonly being decommissioned between seven and 12 years of use due to tax credits and technology issues, not because the panels themselves are failing. The actual number of decommissioned solar panels are likely even higher than previous estimates, because previous studies did not consider the effect of weather damage on solar panels. Washington has the infrastructure and equipment to recycle today; Europe has been recycling for more than 13 years. If Washington does not begin to decrease the price of refurbishment and implement policies, then Washington will just push the problem down the road and keep the cost of refurbishment high. Other states are considering similar policies and are watching Washington's actions. Furthermore, solar panel recycling has the potential to be a multi-billion dollar business that could increase labor and statewide employment. Washington is in a leadership position to leverage the stewardship program into a circular economy and drive economic development in the state. Instead of delaying the program, Washington should keep it moving.