Legally Compliant and Free of Charge

Solar Park Recycling

For repowering, revamping, decommissioning, or the replacement of defective modules, SOLAR MATERIALS ensures legally compliant disposal and proof of disposal under ElektroG. Pickup is free of charge from 500 modules or 10 metric tons.

WEEE-compliant

99% Recovery

14,000 t Capacity p.a.

Free Recycling

At a Glance

Legally compliant disposal under ElektroG and WEEE, with valid proof of disposal
Protection against liability and reputational risk
Europe-wide pickup and logistics
Free pickup from 500 modules or 10 metric tons

Who Is Responsible for the Disposal of Solar Modules from Solar Parks?

Whether the operator or the manufacturer is responsible for the costs of disposal depends on when the solar module was placed on the market. For modules sold before October 24, 2015, the operator bears the costs of proper disposal. For newer modules, the manufacturer is generally obligated to take them back, provided the manufacturer is still active in the market.

Regardless, one responsibility always remains with the operator: solar modules must be directed to proper disposal and the process must be documented. Anyone who stores modules, passes them on without proof of disposal, or sells them through non-transparent gray market structures remains liable.

Solar modules contain valuable materials such as silver, silicon, aluminum, copper, and glass. Whether this value is preserved depends on the recycling process. SOLAR MATERIALS separates the modules thermomechanically into pure material fractions instead of shredding them. This meets regulatory requirements and enables the recovery of valuable materials at industrial scale.

Why Solar Park Operators Work with SOLAR MATERIALS

Full Liability Protection and Legal Certainty
Solar Materials is a WEEE-certified initial treatment facility and certified waste management operation. Every order is completed with transparent documentation and a proof of disposal.

Free Pickup of Solar Modules
Recycling of crystalline solar modules at SOLAR MATERIALS is free of charge. This is made possible by the recovery of valuable materials such as silver, silicon, aluminum, copper, and glass.

Europe-wide Logistics
From pickup to delivery at the recycling facility, SOLAR MATERIALS coordinates all logistics. Operators only need to provide location, module quantity, and time window.

Certified. Documented.
Operational.

99 %

Recovery Rate

Patented thermomechanical process with no chemical inputs. Significantly exceeds regulatory requirements for material recovery and recycling.

14.000

Tons Annual Capacity

Industrial facility in Magdeburg. Designed for large module volumes from solar parks, repowering, and decommissioning.

2023

certified

WEEE-compliant initial treatment facility and certified waste management operation with complete documentation and proof of compliance.

> 70

Employees

Growing team of recycling, logistics, and technology specialists. The foundation for building the solar circular economy at industrial scale.

Solar Materials Mitarbeiter arbeitet an Solarmodulen

What Does Solar Module Disposal Cost?

At SOLAR MATERIALS, pickup is free of charge from 500 modules or 10 metric tons of module weight. Solar modules are not worthless waste — they are carriers of valuable materials. The recovery of silver, silicon, aluminum, copper, and glass enables the free disposal of large module volumes.

Caution is warranted with seemingly simple gray market solutions. During decommissioning, traders often offer to take end-of-life modules as used goods or resell them. This may seem attractive, but carries legal risks: without a certified proof of disposal, liability remains with the operator.

Since May 21, 2026, stricter requirements for cross-border waste shipments have also applied. If end-of-life modules are declared as used goods but actually exported as waste, fines, take-back obligations, and liability risks can arise.

With SOLAR MATERIALS, you receive free, legally compliant disposal through a certified waste management operation — including proof of disposal under ElektroG.