French companies that manufacture, sell, or resell photovoltaic (PV) modules are now responsible to properly recycle PV modules due to the publication of the French WEEE Decree 2014-928. The WEEE Decree went into effect on August 23, 2014.
The decree presents a legal obligation for France-based companies to take-back and recycle discarded PV modules by consumers and other businesses. PV modules were reclassified as household equipment under the French WEEE law and all new equipment sold will include a fee to fund future waste management. The French Country Manager, Nicolas Defreene, “believes that offering a tailored service and good understanding of the French PV market is a vital argument for the country’s industry-managed waste treatment and compliance services.”
