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Photovoltaic panel disposal: GSE requirements and WEEE rules
The disposal of photovoltaic panels is governed by specific environmental regulations, including Italian Legislative Decree 49/2014, which transposes the European WEEE Directive (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment).
Decommissioned panels must be treated by authorised operators, in plants specialised in recovering materials such as glass, silicon, aluminium, plastic and copper.
Why panels are WEEE
Photovoltaic modules are classed as electrical and electronic equipment: at the end of their life they cannot be disposed of as general waste or handled by unauthorised operators.
The GSE deposit
Those who received incentives from the GSE (Italy's energy services operator) under the Conto Energia feed-in scheme must pay a mandatory deposit of around €20 per module at the start of the contract. This amount is refunded only if the final disposal is properly documented.
The documents required by the GSE
- WEEE certificate confirming treatment at an authorised plant.
- FIR (Waste Identification Form) with all the transport and destination details.
Without these documents the GSE does not refund the deposit. It is therefore essential to rely on an authorised company, able to manage the whole process in compliance with the law and provide all the required documentation.
How we work
Barbieri Ecologia operates under a single authorisation pursuant to art. 208 of Italian Legislative Decree 152/2006 and issues the FIR and the WEEE certificate to the customer once treatment is complete.
Find out how the GSE refund works or about our panel recovery service.
