Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnership urges mandate for solar panel recycling

The Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnership (JCLP), a corporate group of 233 companies committed to decarbonisation, has published a position paper urging the government to establish a mandatory recycling system for solar panels. The group expressed deep concern over legislative delays, warning of a future waste crisis.

Currently, the recycling of solar panels is not mandatory in Japan, and most decommissioned panels are sent to landfill. JCLP highlighted projections that this waste stream will reach approximately 500,000 tonnes per year in the late 2030s, placing a severe strain on the country’s final disposal sites. The call to action follows the postponement of a bill to mandate solar panel recycling and a subsequent announcement on 29 August that the proposed system would be reviewed.

In its paper, JCLP stated that achieving a sustainable energy society and ensuring national energy security depends on several parallel goals. These include resource independence through a circular economy, domestic job creation in the recycling sector, and the prevention of illegal dumping through the proper management of power generation facilities.

The partnership contends that while its members are committed to the dual goals of a decarbonised and circular society, voluntary efforts by businesses alone are not enough. It argues that an institutional framework is essential to advance the adoption of solar power with the necessary understanding and support from local communities and the public.

JCLP strongly expects the government to create an institutional foundation that applies to all power generation businesses. The group also called for the promotion of technological development and regulatory reform to lower recycling costs, and for the design of a flexible, advanced system not constrained by traditional frameworks. The establishment of a robust recycling system is seen as a critical step in managing the entire life cycle of renewable energy infrastructure, ensuring that the solutions to today’s climate crisis do not become tomorrow’s waste problem.