Project to Promote the Recycling of Used Residential Solar Panels

To promote the recycling of used residential solar panels, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has designated facilities that contribute to advanced recycling and provides subsidies to cover a portion of the costs for businesses or waste generators that request recycling at these facilities.
We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for eligible recycling facilities.

1. Scope of the Call for Proposals

An industrial waste intermediate treatment operator that meets all of the following requirements

• (1) Entities capable of recycling used silicon-based residential solar panels at facilities located in the Tokyo metropolitan area using the methods described in Table 1
• (2) An entity that has a track record of performing intermediate processing of used solar panels in the Tokyo metropolitan area for at least one year during the period from April 1, 2020, through the end of the month preceding the application date, using the method described in Table 1

Table 1: Recycling Methods

Composition	Processing Method	Recycling rate
Aluminum and glass	Aluminum and glass are separated, and each is recycled.	Processing must be conducted so that the combined weight of recycled materials and recovered heat accounts for at least 80% of the total weight of the used residential solar panels. However, the weight counted toward heat recovery shall not exceed 20% of the total weight of the used residential solar panels.
Cell, encapsulant, back sheet	Cells, encapsulants, and backsheets must be processed using one of the following methods: (a) recycling of valuable metals; (b) recycling of slag through smelting; or (c) thermal recovery at a thermal recovery facility.

2. Application Period

From Thursday, June 4, 2026, to Friday, November 6, 2026

3. Investigation and Designation

A research organization commissioned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government conducts on-site inspections based on the application documents. Based on the inspection report prepared by the research organization, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government designates the organization as an industrial waste intermediate treatment operator to handle used residential solar panels.

4. Application Guidelines

It is posted on our website.

5. Application Desk

Tokyo Metropolitan Environment Public Corporation, Office of Quality Certification and Evaluation (Link to external site)

This project is an initiative to promote the “Tokyo 2050 Strategy.”
Strategy 20: Zero Emissions—”Transition to a Circular Economy”

Contact: Planning Division , Resource Circulation Promotion Department, Bureau of the Environment Phone: 03-5388-3577