Recent Discussions In Japan Over New System For Disposal And Recycling Of Solar Panels

1. Introduction

The current Japanese laws do not require recycling¹ or resource recovery² of any used solar panels, although disassembly method of used solar panels for the purpose of reuse of separated materials have been technically developed. Instead, under the current law used solar panels must be disposed under the responsibility by a waste producer in accordance with the relevant regulations of the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act (the “Waste Management Act”). It is said that under such current legal obligations imposed PV operators, not so much progress has been made with respect to recycling and resource recovery of used solar panels.

Having said that, the necessity for recycling and resource recovery has been discussed in the Japanese society in preparation of the forthcoming era of mass disposal of used solar panels. In response to the above arguments, a working group of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (“METI”) and the Ministry of