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Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Motor Vehicle Air Conditioner Disposal

Air conditioning units in motor vehicles that contain refrigerants must be removed prior to disposal of the unit. This page provides information on:

• Recycling vs. Reclamation
• Recovering Refrigerant During Motor Vehicle Air Condition Disposal
• Five Steps to Insure Compliance Regarding Refrigerants for Motor Vehicle Salvage Facilities
• Appliance Recycling
• More Information on Motor Vehicle Air Conditioner Disposal
• Motor Vehicle Dismantling Checklist
• Verification of Refrigerant Removal Form
• Who to Call for Help

Recycling vs. Reclamation

In the discussion that follows on this page, it is important to make the distinction between recycling and reclaiming.

Recovering Refrigerant During Motor Vehicle Air Condition Disposal

A new rule, effective January 29, 1998, contains provisions designed to clarify that automotive service technicians and motor vehicle disposal facility operators may, under certain conditions, recycle and resell refrigerant after it has been recovered from a motor vehicle destined for disposal.

For more information, see the fact sheet entitled, "Recovering Refrigerant at Salvage Yards and Other Motor Vehicle Disposal Facilities," at the U.S. EPA's Web site.

Five Steps to Insure Compliance Regarding Refrigerants for Motor Vehicle Salvage Facilities

Step 1: Obtain Technician Certification, if applicable

Persons who recover refrigerant from motor vehicle air conditioners (MVAC) prior to their disposal must obtain technician certification through a United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) approved program if the refrigerant will be charged into a MVAC or MVAC-like appliance. Alternatively, an employee, owner, operator of, or contractor to the disposal facility may conduct the recovery. Remember, a certified technician must perform the actual recharging into a MVAC or MVAC-like appliance. If the refrigerant is sent to be reclaimed, a certified technician does not need to do the recovery.

Note: if your facility recycles appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, and room air conditioners, a different type of technician certification is required. Contact the MPCA for more details.

Step 2: Obtain Refrigerant Recovery Equipment

Refrigerant must be removed from MVACs by using recovery equipment that is able to reduce the system pressure to 102 mm mercury vacuum. Refrigerants must be recovered using equipment designed to handle a specific refrigerant.

If the refrigerant will be charged into a MVAC or MVAC-like appliance without prior reclamation, then the refrigerant must be recovered and recycled using approved equipment dedicated for use with MVACs and MVAC-like appliances.

Step 3: Register Your Refrigerant Recovery Equipment

Owners of recovery equipment are required to register their equipment by completing the U.S. EPA form, "Refrigerant Recovery or Recycling Device Acquisition Certification Form," and sending it to the U.S. EPA's regional office in Chicago. The address is located on the back of the form. We recommend sending this certification form by certified mail to ensure the U.S. EPA receives it.

Step 4: Manage Your Recovered Refrigerant Correctly

• Salvagers should try to recover refrigerants as soon as possible after vehicles arrive at their facilities.

• When recovering refrigerants, make sure different types of refrigerants are not mixed. Recover each type of refrigerant into its own container. Refrigerant reclaimers and wholesalers will pay for used refrigerant that is not mixed but they charge for taking mixed refrigerants.

• Used refrigerants must be recovered into Department of Transportation approved cylinders.

• Refrigerant recovered by MVAC disposers can either be sent to a U.S. EPA certified reclaimer or be recycled. The recycling would have to be done by a MVAC-certified technician or by an employee, owner, or contractor to the disposal facility using approved recycling equipment, and used in an MVAC or MVAC-like appliance. The actual recharging of refrigerant into an MVAC or MVAC-like appliance would have to be done by an MVAC-certified technician.

Step 5: Keep Accurate Up-To-Date Records

• Anyone who recovers refrigerant from MVACs or MVAC-like appliances for purposes of disposal must certify to EPA that they have acquired equipment that meets the requirements.

• 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 MVACs arrive at your facility with the refrigerant already removed, the MVAC supplier must fill out the "Verification of Refrigerant Removal". This form may act as a contract (for example, between an individual and a salvage yard or between an salvage yard and a scrap metal facility) to document that the refrigerant has been removed from the MVAC(s) prior to delivery.

• Anyone who sells or distributes ozone-depleting refrigerant must retain invoices that indicate the name of the purchaser, the date of sale, and quantity of refrigerant purchased.

• Keep records of the waste removed from each vehicle. A form entitled "Motor Vehicle Dismantling Checklist Waste Removal" has been developed to help you establish a set procedure for recovering motor vehicle wastes and to keep records of the wastes removed from each vehicle. Keep this form in conjunction with the "Verification of Refrigerant Removal."

What about Appliance Recycling?

If you accept and recycle appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, or dehumidifiers, you will be subject to different requirements such as additional technician certification and reporting requirements. For additional information regarding appliances, please see Appliance Recyclers.

More Information on Disposal

For more info on disposing motor vehicle air conditioners, check out the U.S. EPA's Web site.

Motor Vehicle Dismantling Checklist

• Motor Vehicle Dismantling Checklist

Verification of Refrigeration Removal Form

Note: This form is a pdf document and you'll need Adobe Acrobat installed on your machine to view it.

• Verification of Refrigeration Removal

More Information

• 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.