Alberta’s $14 Solar Panel Recycling Fee: What Changes October 1
Alberta adds a $14 environmental fee to each new solar panel starting October 1, 2026. Here is what it covers and what it costs per system.
Starting October 1, 2026, a $14 environmental fee applies to every new solar panel supplied in Alberta. The Alberta solar panel recycling fee funds a province-wide program, run by the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA), that collects and recycles panels at the end of their service life. This guide explains what the fee covers, what it adds to a typical system, and how it affects your next order.
What the Alberta Solar Panel Recycling Fee Is
In 2024, Alberta expanded its electronics recycling regulation to include solar panels. ARMA, the not-for-profit organization that already manages recycling programs for tires, paint and electronics, has run a solar panel pilot for the past few years. On October 1, 2026, that pilot becomes a permanent program. ARMA describes it as the first stewardship program for solar panel recycling in North America.
The fee is charged when a new panel is supplied in Alberta. Registered suppliers collect it and remit it to ARMA, which uses it to pay for the collection, transportation and recycling of end-of-life panels and to build recycling capacity within the province.
Which Solar Panels Are Covered
The fee is charged per panel, not per watt, on any panel with an area of 1 square metre (about 10.8 sq. ft.) or larger. It covers every common panel technology and every market segment:
- Crystalline silicon: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and perovskite-silicon tandem panels
- Thin film: cadmium telluride (CdTe), CIGS, amorphous silicon and gallium arsenide panels
- All applications: residential, commercial, industrial and utility-scale installations
Panels smaller than 1 m²
Compact panels fall outside the program. Many 100 W panels used on RVs, trailers, boats and small cabin systems measure about 1.0 m by 0.5 m, which is well under the threshold. To check a specific panel, multiply its length by its width in metres using the dimensions on the datasheet. If the result is less than 1.0, the fee does not apply.
Panels already installed
The fee is not retroactive. Panels already on your roof or ground mount are not charged, and neither are panels purchased before October 1, 2026. When those panels eventually reach the end of their service life, they can still be recycled through the ARMA program.
What the Fee Adds to a Typical Solar System
Modern residential panels in the 400 W to 600 W range measure roughly 1.9 to 2.7 m², so every one of them is covered. The table below shows the fee on common system sizes using 400 W and 450 W panels.
| System | Panels | Total fee |
|---|---|---|
| 4 kW cabin or garage (400 W panels) | 10 | $140 |
| 9 kW home (450 W panels) | 20 | $280 |
| 13.5 kW acreage (450 W panels) | 30 | $420 |
| 27 kW farm or shop (450 W panels) | 60 | $840 |
On a 450 W panel, $14 works out to a little over 3 cents per watt. Because the fee is flat per panel, higher-wattage panels spread it across more output. Where your roof or racking layout allows, larger modules keep the fee lower per kilowatt installed.
Solar Panels Are Now Banned from Alberta Landfills
The program also brings a landfill ban. From October 1, 2026, end-of-life solar panels in Alberta must be reused or recycled rather than sent to a landfill. A typical panel contains glass, aluminum, silicon, silver and copper, all of which can be recovered and returned to the supply chain.
The province expects the volume to grow quickly. By 2045, more than 95 per cent of the solar panels installed in Alberta today could reach the end of their useful life, producing up to 72,700 tonnes of material.
How to Recycle Old Solar Panels in Alberta
- Homeowners and small systems: take panels to a designated ARMA collection depot. ARMA recommends contacting your local electronics recycling depot first to confirm that it accepts solar panels.
- Commercial, industrial and institutional sites: ARMA arranges pickup for quantities of 100 panels or more.
- Damaged panels: handle cracked glass with gloves and keep the pieces together. A damaged panel still produces voltage in daylight, so cover the front face and cap or tape any exposed connectors before transport.
ARMA is publishing its list of approved collection and service providers on its website. Current details are available on the ARMA solar panel program page and in the ARMA FAQ.
What It Means for Installers and Contractors
Solar panel suppliers in Alberta must register with ARMA. Registered suppliers either charge the fee on each sale and report to ARMA monthly, or pay the fee on the inventory they purchase and include it in their pricing. When you buy panels from a registered Alberta supplier, the fee is handled at the time of purchase and there is nothing further for you to report.
Buyers that bring panels into Alberta from outside the province or from an unregistered supplier may be required to report and remit the fee to ARMA directly. For quotes issued now for jobs that will be supplied after October 1, include the fee in your panel pricing so there are no surprises for your customer.
How Circuit Solar Is Handling the Fee
Circuit Solar applies the $14 environmental fee to each eligible solar panel supplied in Alberta on orders placed on or after October 1, 2026. The fee appears as its own line on your order, and the full amount is remitted to ARMA. Orders placed before October 1 are not charged the fee.
If you are planning a system this fall, now is a good time to confirm your panel count and place your order. Our team can help you size an array that fits your roof, your consumption and your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Alberta solar recycling fee charged per panel or per system?
The fee is $14 per panel. It applies to each new panel of 1 m² or larger supplied in Alberta, so the total depends on how many panels are in your system.
Do I have to pay the fee on solar panels I already own?
No. The fee applies only to new panels supplied on or after October 1, 2026. Panels that are already installed or were purchased before that date are not charged.
Does the fee apply to small RV or cabin solar panels?
Only if the panel is 1 m² or larger. Many compact panels, including a large share of 100 W panels, are below that size and are not covered by the program.
Where can I recycle old solar panels in Alberta?
Homeowners can drop panels off at a designated ARMA collection depot. Contact your local electronics recycling depot to confirm it accepts solar panels. Sites with 100 or more panels can arrange a pickup through ARMA.
Who receives the $14 fee?
The fee is remitted to the Alberta Recycling Management Authority, a not-for-profit organization. It funds the collection, transportation and recycling of end-of-life panels and the development of recycling capacity in Alberta.
Does the fee apply outside Alberta?
The fee is part of Alberta’s recycling program and applies to panels supplied in Alberta. No other province currently has an equivalent solar panel stewardship fee.
Browse our full range of solar panels, or read our guides to solar system maintenance and monitoring and off-grid solar systems in Canada. If you have a question about how the fee applies to your order, contact our team and we will be glad to help.