Collective implementation of the take-back and recycling obligation for end-of-life PV panels: Experience of the European system

Despite the fact that the first flow of end-of-life (EoL) PV panels is expected by 2020, by 2014 producers and manufacturers will have to comply with the different national requirements for take-back and recycling PV modules on the markets where they are active imposed by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Directive. PV CYCLE, founded in 2007, implements the PV industry´s commitment of collecting and recycling their EoL PV panels. As a non for profit organization, PV CYCLE was a proactive initiative of the manufacturers to create a pan-European collection system to reduce administrative burdens and to make use of economies of scale. Considering the change in the legal framework of the EoL PV panels, the PV CYCLE´s aim is to adapt the scheme to be WEEE compliant in its complete geographical scope. Today, with more than 230 companies´ member of PV CYCLE, it represents more than 90% of the European PV market.