Disposing of Old Solar Panels No Easy Feat in California

California ranks No. 1 when it comes to solar installations, with enough units to power nearly 6.4 million homes—but not forever.

Disposing of older models when they break or are no longer useful can be a vexing and expensive problem, one that the state is starting to address through draft regulations expected April 19.

Depending on the type and manufacturer, photovoltaic modules can contain lead, arsenic, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and other compounds that could be hazardous.

While the life of a solar system has been touted as between 25 and 30 years, homeowners or businesses who bought models in the ...