Special Pollutant: CFCs
CFCs and Appliance Servicing
CFCs and Appliance Recyclers
CFC Technician Certification
CFCs and Motor Vehicle Air Conditioner
Disposal
CFCs and Motor Vehicle Air Conditioner
Servicing
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MPCA Home > Air > Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) > CFCs and Appliance Recyclers
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Appliance Recyclers
Many appliances contain refrigerants that must be removed prior to
disposal of the unit. This page provides information for appliance recyclers
on the following CFC requirements:
Five Steps to Insure
Compliance Regarding Refrigerants for Appliance Recyclers
Step 1: Obtain Technician Certification
Persons who engage in the business of recycling appliances that may
contain refrigerant must obtain technician certification through a
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved program. The program
will issue a certificate upon the technician's successful completion
of an exam. Four types of certifications are available. The type of
certification needed depends on the type of appliances being recycled
(see the following table). Visit the U.S.
EPA's Web site or contact Lisa Holscher, U.S. EPA, Region V, Chicago,
312-886-6818, for a list of approved certification programs.
|
Type
of Appliances Being Recycled
|
Type
of Certification Required
|
| Small Appliances
- Room air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, and dehumidifiers. |
Type I (can
be obtained by taking a mail-in test) |
| High and very
high-pressure appliances, including but not limited to appliances
that use refrigerants -12, -13, -22, -114, -500, -502 and -503,
except the appliances listed in Row 1 and motor vehicle air conditioners
(MVACs). |
Type II (an
on-site test must be taken) |
| Low-pressure
appliances; including but not limited to appliances that use
refrigerants -11, -113, and -123. |
Type III (an
on-site test must be taken) |
| Low, high,
and very high-pressure appliances including those listed in Row
1. (This certification includes Type I, II, and III). |
Universal
(an on-site test must be taken) |
Step 2: Obtain Refrigerant Recovery Equipment
- Refrigerants must be recovered from appliances prior to processing,
dismantling, recycling, or crushing. Effective November 15, 1995,
all substitute refrigerants, such as R-134a, must be recovered.
- For small appliances, refrigerant recovery equipment
must:
- recover at least 90% of the refrigerant in an appliance
with a functioning compressor or at least 80% of
the refrigerant in an appliance with a compressor
that is not functioning,
OR
- evacuate a small
appliance to a pressure
of 4 inches of mercury
vacuum.
Step 3: Manage Your Recovered Refrigerant Correctly
Step 4: Register Your Recovery Equipment
- Complete the form entitled below, "Refrigerant Recovery or Recycling
Device Acquisition Certification Form," and send it to the U.S. EPA's
regional office in Chicago. The address is located on the back of
the form. It is recommended that this certification form be sent
by certified mail to ensure its receipt by the U.S. EPA.
Step 5: Keep Accurate Up-To-Date Records
- Keep copies of the technicians' certifications at the place of
business or work site, if different.
- Keep copies of the "Verification
of Refrigerant Removal" form at the
place of business or work site, if
different, for at least three years.
When appliances arrive at your
facility with the refrigerant
already removed, the supplier
of the appliance must fill out
the form entitled "Verification
of Refrigerant Removal." This
form may act as a contract (for
example, between an individual
and an appliance recycler or
between an appliance recycler
and a scrap metal facility) to
document that the refrigerant
has been removed from the appliance(s)
prior to delivery.
For more information about
recording keeping, read the
following fact sheet:
The MPCA cautions individuals to evaluate the services and compliance
status of any company used to manage refrigerants and waste. Individuals
and businesses are responsible for insuring that any company with whom
they contract for products or services complies with the requirements
of state and federal law.
- For technical questions or for more information about CFCs, contact
Jeffrey Bratko, U.S. EPA, Region V, Chicago, 312-886-6816. If you have a
complaint, contact Lisa Holscher, U.S. EPA, Region V, Chicago, 312-886-6818.
- EPA Ozone Depletion
Web Site. Information on acceptable alternatives, retrofitting,
handling contaminated or unfamiliar refrigerants, and technician
certification programs.
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Refrigerant
Recovery or Recycling Device Acquisition Certification Form
Record-Keeping
Requirements for Small Appliance Recycling