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Refrigerant recovery collects and reuses or safely disposes of refrigerants from household products to prevent harm to the environment. It can reduce costs and create a market for recycled refrigerants. Trained technicians handle the process, which is governed by the Alliance for Responsible Atmosphere policy and local regulations.
A variety of cooling agents, or refrigerants, are used in the average household. Freon® in air conditioning units, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in refrigerators and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosol products are just a few common examples of refrigerants encountered on a daily basis. While these chemicals have their uses, they have also been shown to harm the environment and deplete the earth’s ozone layer if not controlled or disposed of improperly. Refrigerant recovery is a sector of the environmental industry that works to collect and reuse these and other chemicals, or to properly dispose of chemicals in a way that does not harm the environment.
Refrigerant recovery works on the same principles as many other environmental recovery concepts. The first part of the process is to reduce the use or need for the products. The second part is refrigerant recovery, the process of collecting these chemicals from obsolete or discarded products to purify them for use in refrigerant recycling or chemical reuse. When they can no longer be used again, refrigerant recovery specialists properly burn or dispose of the chemicals safely.
Saving the environment is just one of the benefits of refrigerant recovery. This recycling method can also reduce costs by increasing the life of items that use the refrigerant, reducing the need for new refrigerant, and reducing environmental compliance costs that businesses and homeowners may face. Entrepreneurs may find that there is an expanded market for recycled and remanufactured refrigerants.
Many HVAC technicians are trained to handle the refrigerant recovery process. The exact method and recovery process is based on the type of refrigerant and the size of the equipment from which the refrigerant is extracted. A small window air conditioner compressor, for example, can be emptied and reused on site by an experienced technician. While some refrigerants can be recovered on site, others must be extracted and sent to a recovery facility by technicians with more advanced training and equipment.
The Alliance for Responsible Atmosphere policy governs processes, training procedures and policies related to refrigerant recovery worldwide. To find an authorized technician or training programs to become a technician, please consult the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy. Local governments may also have specific requirements. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) also has a hand in creating policies and training technicians to carefully and safely carry out the processes involved in recovery.
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