A key element of the responsible use and stewardship of fluorocarbon refrigerants is the recovery, recycling and reclamation of used refrigerants so that they can be reprocessed for further commercial use or destroyed. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) can be recovered, recycled and reclaimed from many applications, including mobile air conditioning, stationary air conditioning and refrigeration.

There are many environmental and economic benefits to be gained from recovery, recycling and reclamation efforts worldwide. The major benefits include:

The following describes the specific differences between refrigerant recovery, recycling and reclamation:

Refrigerant RECOVERY involves the removal of a refrigerant from a system and the placement of that refrigerant into a container. The recovery process:

• Is conducted whenever technicians need to open or dispose of air condi tioning or refrigeration equipment.
• Includes removal of refrigerant vapor (heels) to established vacuum levels to maximize the amount of refrigerant captured and minimize releases. Examples of recovery/recycling machine design safety are included in Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1963, and performance specifications are included in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) 740.
• Involves service technicians, equipment operators, appliance disposal facilities, equipment and refrigerant manufacturers.

Refrigerant RECYCLING involves processing used refrigerants to reduce contaminants, then reusing the refrigerant.

• Recycling is recommended only when recharging to the same owner's equipment.
• Recycling involves removal of some contaminants prior to reuse. Contaminants can result in early system failure. Contaminants include oil, moisture, acid, chlorides, particulates, and non-condensable gases.
• The Industry Recycling Guide (IRG-2) published by ARI describes maximum recommended levels of impurities.
• International Organization for Standards (ISO) 11650, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1990 or ARI 740 standards may be used to measure recovery/recycling equipment performance.

Refrigerant RECLAMATION involves purifying used refrigerant to meet industry product specifications.

• Reclamation identifies bad or mixed refrigerants which could result in equipment damage or leakage. Chemical analysis also is required to verify specification values to meet or exceed product standards. (e.g. ISO 12810, ARI 700).
• Reclamation may include filtering, separation, distillation, dilution, or reformulation of the recovered refrigerant.

• Reclamation is recommended when used refrigerants will be charged into equipment other than the equip ment it was removed from, or into equipment owned by a different company.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that reclaimed refrigerant must attain ARI 700 or ISO 12810, or equivalent specification prior to resale.
• Reclamation facilities and processes should be designed to minimize emissions.
• Non-reclaimable refrigerants should be disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner, and in accordance with applicable regulations.

Specific Recovery, Recycling and Reclamation options and methods depend on the application and refrigeration equipment size. Recovery and recycling of refrigerants used in mobile air conditioning normally occurs in licensed vehicle maintenance facilities where the used refrigerant is removed and replaced with a recycled product. For stationary air conditioning systems or small refrigeration equipment, HVAC professionals can remove and recover used refrigerants, which can then be shipped to a reclamation facility. For large refrigeration equipment, used refrigerant can be recovered by an HVAC professional and either reclaimed onsite for reuse or shipped to a reclamation facility. Regardless of which method is used, all personnel must be properly trained to handle refrigerants.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), various governments worldwide, and many companies can provide more information. Contact the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy. The Alliance recommends that refrigerants not be released to the atmosphere, and where feasible, recovery/recycling standards for all refrigerants be strengthened. Recovery, recycling and reclamation will maximize refrigerant reuse and thereby minimize release to the atmosphere.

The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy is a leading industry voice which coordinates industry participation in the development of reasonable international and U.S. Government policies regarding ozone protection and global climate change.

The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy is a leading industry voice which coordinates industry participation in the development of reasonable international and U.S. Government policies regarding ozone protection and global climate change.

The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy 2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 850 - Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: (703) 243-0344 - Fax: (703) 243-2874 E-mail: info@arap.org