---
title: HB 320. Waste management; require recycling of solar panels
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb320
cite_as: HB 320, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb320
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb320.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb320/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70031
date: 2026-03-31
status: engrossed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 1130
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb320.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 320
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-25
last_action: Senate Tabled
sponsors:
- Trey Kelley
- Robert Dickey
- Don Parsons
- Beth Camp
- Charles Cannon
- Gabe Okoye
- Chuck Hufstetler
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB320/2025
upstream_id: 1961007
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- solar panel recycling
- waste management
- renewable energy regulation
- environmental law
---
# HB 320. Waste management; require recycling of solar panels
## Text
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment offered the following
substitute to HB 320:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to solid waste management, so as to require
the recycling of solar panels; to prohibit the discarding or disposing of solar panels by any
manner other than by delivery to a legitimate recycling facility that accepts solar panels for
recycling; to provide for exceptions; to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties; to
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to general provisions relative to solid waste management, is amended by adding a
new Code section to read as follows:
"12-8-28.1.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Legitimate recycling facility' means a recovered materials processing facility or any
other recycling center or disposal facility that accepts solar panels for recycling so as to
return a significant portion of the materials recovered from such solar panels to
commerce as a commodity for use in a beneficial and safe manner and that does not,
through its recycling process, adversely impact public health or safety or the
environment.
(2) 'Solar panel' means any device that contains a bank of solar cells or other solar energy
collection system that when exposed to solar radiation can generate electricity.
(3) 'Solar power facility' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code
Section 46-3-67.
(b) No owner or operator of a solar power facility shall discard or dispose of or cause to
be discarded or disposed of a solar panel by placing it in a landfill located in this state, by
placing it with other municipal solid waste or commercial solid waste that is or will be
delivered to a landfill located in this state, or by any other manner except by delivery to a
legitimate recycling facility, unless:
(1) No legitimate recycling facility exists within a radius of 250 miles from the location
where the solar panels are removed from service; or
(2) All legitimate recycling facilities within 250 miles of the location where the solar
panels are removed from service are unable to accept such solar panels within 30 days
of a request to deliver such solar panels by the owner or operator.
(c) Any owner or operator of a solar power facility who violates subsection (b) of this
Code section shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $20.00 for each offense. For
the purposes of this Code section, each solar panel that is discarded or disposed of in
violation of subsection (b) of this Code section shall constitute a separate offense. The
civil penalty provided for in this subsection shall be recoverable in a civil action brought
in any court of competent jurisdiction by the Attorney General or any district attorney."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia Senate substitute for House Bill 320 would require owners of solar power facilities to recycle old solar panels instead of throwing them in landfills, with limited exceptions and fines for violations.
### Plain-language summary
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.
### What it does
- 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.
### Who it affects
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.
### Why it matters
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.
### Key provisions
- 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. ยง 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.
## Status
- Status: Engrossed (2026-02-25)
- Last action: Senate Tabled (2026-03-31)
- Sponsors: Trey Kelley, Robert Dickey, Don Parsons, Beth Camp, Charles Cannon, Gabe Okoye, Chuck Hufstetler
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70031
> The history, votes, and amendments (1,130 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb320.md?full=1