Lok Sabha Question No. 1330 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Generation of Solar Panel Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dr. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1330

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## Generation of Solar Panel Waste

## 1330.  DR. PRADEEP KUMAR PANIGRAHY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether 34,000 metric tonnes of solar panel waste is expected to generate in the country by 2030;
- (b) if so, the reasons for lack in recycling standards or Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)  rules,  unlike  the  European  Union's  strict  Waste,  Electrical  and  Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive; and
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to make recycling Standards or EPR Rules at par with EU's WEEE Directive?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (c) No authentic estimate is available so far regarding the generation of solar panel waste in the country by 2030. Ministry has comprehensively revised the  E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 in November, 2022 and the same is in force since 1 st  April, 2023. These new rules provide for managing ewaste including  solar  photo-voltaic (PV) modules or panels  or cells in an environmentally sound  manner  and  putting  in  place  an  improved  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  (EPR) regime for e-waste recycling wherein all the manufacturer, producer, refurbisher and recycler are required to register on portal developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The new provisions facilitate and channelize the informal sector to formal sector for doing business and ensuring recycling of e-waste in environmentally sound manner. Provisions for environmental compensation and verification & audit have also been introduced. These rules also promote Circular Economy through EPR regime and scientific recycling/disposal of the e-waste.

As  per  these  rules,  every  manufacturer  and  producer  of  solar  photo-voltaic  modules  or panels  or  cells  have  been  mandated  to  obtain  registration,  maintain  inventory  of  solar  PV modules, store the waste generated from Solar PV modules/panels/cells up to the year 2034-35 as  per  the  guidelines  laid  down  under  the  rules,  file  annual  returns,  comply  with  Standard Operating Procedures, and process the waste other than solar PV modules as per the applicable rules or guidelines. Further, Recycler of solar photo-voltaic modules or panels or cells has been mandated for recovery of material as laid down by the CPCB.

Following steps has been taken for effective management of E-Waste Rules as under:

- (i) An online E-Waste EPR portal has been developed by CPCB wherein entities such as producers, manufacturers, recyclers and refurbishers of the e-waste are required to be registered.
- (ii) CPCB  has  developed  guidelines  for  the  scientific  and  environmentally  sound management of e-waste. The guidelines detail the procedures and facilities in terms of machineries  and  pollution  control  devices  required  for  the  recycling  of  e-waste  in environmentally sound manner.
- (iii) An action plan for implementation of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 has been prepared  by  CPCB  and  the  same  is  being  implemented  by  all  the  State  Pollution Control  Boards  (SPCBs)/Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCCs)  in  their  respective States/UTs. SPCBs/PCCs are submitting quarterly progress report.
- (iv) The registered entities submit their compliance through Quarterly and Annual Returns on the E-waste Portal.
- (v) The rules have provided verification and audit of the registered entities by the CPCB or through a designated agency to verify compliance of these rules through random inspection  and  periodic  audit,  as  deemed  appropriate,  so  as  to  take  action  against violations of these rules.
- (vi) Environmental Compensation (EC) Guidelines under E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 have been developed for levying EC on any entity in case of violation of any of the provision of these rules and guidelines issued hereunder.

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