HB 320: Waste management; require recycling of solar panels

Georgia law currently has no specific rule for how solar panels must be thrown away when they wear out or are taken out of service. This bill adds a new section to the state's solid waste management law (O.C.G.A. Title 12, Chapter 8) that bars owners or operators of solar power facilities from dumping solar panels in landfills or mixing them with regular trash. Instead, panels generally must go to a 'legitimate recycling facility,' one that recovers a significant share of usable material and does not harm public health, safety, or the environment in the process. The bill allows two exceptions: if no qualifying recycling facility exists within 250 miles of where the panels were removed, or if every nearby facility cannot accept the panels within 30 days of a request. Violators face a civil penalty of up to $20 per solar panel, with each improperly discarded panel counted as a separate offense. The Attorney General or a district attorney could sue in court to collect the penalty. The bill repeals any conflicting laws.

• Requires owners or operators of solar power facilities to send retired solar panels to a legitimate recycling facility rather than landfills or regular trash.
• Defines 'legitimate recycling facility,' 'solar panel,' and 'solar power facility' for purposes of the new recycling requirement.
• Creates two exceptions: no qualifying recycler within 250 miles, or all nearby recyclers unable to accept the panels within 30 days.
• Sets a civil penalty of up to $20 per solar panel improperly discarded, with each panel counted as a separate violation.
• Authorizes the Attorney General or a district attorney to bring a civil lawsuit in court to collect the penalty.

Owners and operators of solar power facilities in Georgia, who must arrange for panel recycling; recycling and waste disposal facilities that may receive discarded panels; and the Attorney General's office and local district attorneys, who could enforce the new penalty in court.

As solar installations across Georgia age, more panels will eventually need disposal. This bill would push those panels toward recycling facilities instead of landfills, which could reduce landfill waste but also creates new compliance costs and legal exposure for solar facility operators who fail to follow the rule.

• Section 1 adds new Code Section 12-8-28.1 to Georgia's solid waste management law, defining 'legitimate recycling facility,' 'solar panel,' and 'solar power facility' (the last referencing O.C.G.A. § 46-3-67).
• Subsection (b) prohibits landfilling or otherwise disposing of solar panels except through delivery to a legitimate recycling facility.
• Subsection (b) creates exceptions when no qualifying recycler is within 250 miles or none can accept the panels within 30 days of a request.
• Subsection (c) sets a civil penalty of up to $20 per solar panel disposed of in violation, with each panel treated as a separate offense, enforceable by the Attorney General or a district attorney.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Tabled (Senate)
2. 2026-03-31Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
3. 2026-03-27Senate Tabled (Senate)
4. 2026-03-19Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
5. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
6. 2026-02-26Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
7. 2026-02-25House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
8. 2026-02-25House Third Readers (House)

• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)Primary sponsor
• Robert Dickey (R, HD-134)
• Don Parsons (R, HD-044)
• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)
• Gabe Okoye (D, HD-102)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 25, 2026

   162 yea, 4 nay (6 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #558

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   26 yea, 22 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Motion To Table Remaining Legislation On The Rules Calendar: Senate Vote #835

• solar panel recycling
• waste management
• renewable energy regulation
• environmental law